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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 
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https://archive.org/details/historyofblairba01horn 


c- 


THE  HISTORY 

OF  THE 


BLAIR,  BANISTER,  AND  BRAXTON  FAMILIES 


BEFORE  AND  AFTER  THE  REVOLUTION 

WITH 

A  BRIEF  SKETCH  OF  THEIR  DESCENDANTS 

BY 

FREDERICK  HORNER,  M.D.,  U.  S.N. 


PHILADELPHIA 

PRINTED  BY  J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY 
1898 


Copyright,  1897, 

BY 

Frederick  Horner,  M.D. 


TO 

MY  BELOVED  SISTER, 

HENRIETTA  BRAXTON  HORNER  WYETH, 

OF  PHILADELPHIA, 

THIS  BOOK  IS  AFFECTIONATELY 
DEDICATED. 


<3 


IQ 


WILLIAMSBURG 
(View  from  the  College), 


PREFACE. 


The  author  claims  not  to  wield  the  pen  of  the  ready 
writer,  or  to  be  moved  by  the  inspiration  of  the  tongue  of 
the  eloquent ;  hence  the  purpose  of  this  volume  is  simply 
to  save  from  oblivion  the  records  of  the  family  of  John 
Banister,  who,  with  others,  framed  the  Articles  of  Con¬ 
federation  of  the  Colonies  of  America,  and  thereby  planted 
the  germ-seeds  of  a  great  Republic ;  of  Carter  Braxton,  a 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  who  developed 
thereby  into  quickened  life  a  giant  Empire;  and  of  John 
Blair,  who  contributed  on  the  part  of  the  State  of  Vir¬ 
ginia  to  confirm  a  more  perfect  union  by  the  adoption  of 
the  Federal  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  The  trio 
— soldier,  patriot,  and  jurist — thus  deserve  at  the  hands 
of  their  descendants, — 

“  Monumentum  sere  perennius,” 

who  should,  with  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  with  the  motto, 
“  Tu  ne  cede  malis,  sed  contra  audentior  ito,”  ever  seek 
to  preserve  unsullied  the  escutcheon  committed  to  them 
with  the  following  fragmentary  records  of  their  families, 
illustrative  of  the 

“  Virtue  which  breaks  through  all  opposition 
And  all  temptation  can  remove, 

Most  shines  and  is  most  acceptable  above.” 

To  the  reader  is  furnished  in  this  volume  another  chap¬ 
ter  of  unpublished  Virginian  history,  obtained  from  pri- 


VI 


PREFACE. 


vate  letters  of  the  families  of  the  Banisters,  Braxtons,  and 
Blairs,  and  their  descendants,  with  extracts  from  the  diary 
of  Carter  Braxton,  Jr.,  1788-89,  when  in  England.  The 
portraits  of  Carter  Braxton,  the  signer ;  of  James  Blair, 
B.D.,  the  fonnder  of  William  and  Mary  College,  Vir¬ 
ginia,  and  of  Colonel  John  Banister,  with  other  valuable 
illustrations,  were  obtained  by  the  author  after  years  of 
patient  toil  and  considerable  expense.  My  labor  of  love 
is  now  ended,  and  I  may  remind  the  reader  of  Lord 
Bacon’s  observation,  that 

“  Antiquities  are  history  defaced,  or  remnants  that  have 
escaped  the  shipwreck  of  Time.  In  these  kinds  of  imper¬ 
fect  history  no  deficiency  need  be  noted,  they  being  of 
their  own  nature  imperfect.” 

The  following  are  the  titles  of  authorities  referred  to  in 
the  course  of  this  work  : 

“  Old  Churches,  Ministers,  and  Families  of  Virginia;” 
Burke’s  “  Landed  Gentry  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland 
Perry’s  “  Historical  Collections  of  Virginia Sprague’s 
“Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit;”  Manuscript  History 
of  the  Blair  Family  in  the  Library  of  the  Virginia  Histor¬ 
ical  Society,  Richmond,  Va. ;  William  and  Mary  Quarterly, 
October,  1892 ;  “  Discourse  on  the  Virginia  Convention  of 
1776,”  by  Hugh  Blair  Grigsby;  “History  of  the  Bolling 
Family ;”  Campbell’s  “  History  of  Virginia ;”  “  A  Memoir 
of  a  Portion  of  the  Bolling  Family  in  England  and  Vir¬ 
ginia,  1868;”  Wynne’s  “Historical  Documents  from  the 
Old  Dominion,”  Ho.  IV. ;  “  The  Belles  of  Old  Philadel¬ 
phia,”  by  Charlotte  Adams,  in  the  American  Magazine, 
April,  1888;  Colonel  John  Banister’s  letters,  published 
in  the  “  Bland  Papers”  and  in  Sparks’s  “  Revolutionary 
Correspondence  of  Washington,”  and  “Virginia  Gene¬ 
alogies,”  Hayden. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Preface  .  v 

part  H. 

THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 

CHAPTER 

I.— Sketches  of  the  Times  of  James  Blair,  1743  ....  19 

II. — John  Blair,  Sr . 47 

III.  — John  Blair,  Jr .  64 

IV.  — Historical  Data  of  the  Times  of  James  Blair  ...  81 

V. — “  Mary  Blair” . 86 


part  IFIf. 

THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 

I. — Sketch  of  the  Life  of  John  Banister . 96 

II. — Letters  and  Correspondence  of  the  Banister  Family  100 

III. — Biographical  Sketch  and  Correspondence  of  the  Ban¬ 
ister  Family,  1896  .  118 


part  HHH. 

THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 

I. — Sketch  of  the  Life  of  Carter  Braxton . 122 

II. — Correspondence  of  the  Braxton  Family . 131 

III. — Extracts  from  the  Diary  of  Carter  Braxton,  Jr.,  in 

England,  1788-89  148 

ly. — Historical  Data  connected  with  the  Braxton  Family 

DURING  THE  PRESENT  CENTURY . 167 

vii 


CONTENTS. 


viii 

part  HD. 

THE  WHlTlNG-LlTTLE  FAMILIES. 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I. — Sketch  of  the  Life  of  Dr.  Kobert  Howe  Little  .  .  171 

II. — Genealogy  and  History . 176 

The  Little  Family . 192 

The  Craighill-Little  Family . 199 

III. — Ketrospection  and  Reflection . 202 


part  D. 

THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 

I. — Dr.  Gustavus  Brown  Horner . 209 

II. — History,  Correspondence,  etc . 214 

III.  — William  E.  Horner . 223 

IV.  — Other  Branches  of  the  Family . 227 

The  Horner  Family  of  Oxford,  N.  C . 228 

V. — John  Scott  Horner . 233 

VI. — Richard  Brent  Horner  and  Family . 236 

VII. — Various  Matters  of  Interest . 239 

The  Berkeley- Brown  Family . 260 

The  Scott  Family  of  Virginia . 251 

The  Thornton  Family . 252 

The  Horner-Marr  Family . 262 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

Williamsburg  (view  from  college) .  v 

Commissary  James  Blair  (founder  of  William  and  Mary  College) 

when  eighty-three  years  of  age .  19 

Jacobus  Blair  (Commissary  James  Blair  in  middle  life) .  20 

William  and  Mary  College .  22 

Watch-key  of  ■J’  B  K  Society  of  William  and  Mary  College  ....  40 

Autograph  signatures .  48 

John  Blair,  Jr.  (signer  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and 

associate  justice  United  States  Supreme  Court) .  04 

Eesidence  of  John  Blair .  GO 

Masonic  insignia .  75 

Mrs.  George  Braxton  (Mary  Blair) .  80 

Colonel  John  Banister  (signer  of  the  Articles  of  Confederation)  .  .  95 

“  Battersea”  (residence  of  Colonel  John  Banister,  near  Petersburg, 

Va.) .  90 

Carter  Braxton  (signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence)  .  .  .  122 

“Newington”  (residence  of  Carter  Braxton) . 124 

Colonel  George  Braxton .  .  130 

George  Braxton  as  a  boy . 140 

Henrietta  Braxton  Horner  Wyeth . 168 

Robert  Howe  Little,  M.D.  (ex-surgeon  United  States  army)  ....  171 
Francis  B.  Whiting,  Esq.  (ex-midshipman  United  States  navy)  .  .  178 
“  Elmington”  (the  Whiting  residence  in  Gloucester  County,  Va.)  .  183 
Dr.  Gustavus  Brown  (ex-surgeon  general  in  the  Revolutionary 

War) . 209 

Gustavus  Brown  Horner,  M.D.  (ex-assistant  surgeon,  U.  S.  A.,  in 

Revolutionary  War . 214 

W.  E.  Horner,  M.D.  (professor  of  human  anatomy,  University  of 

Pennsylvania) . 224 

James  Hunter  Horner  (founder  of  Horner  Military  School,  Oxford, 

N.  C.) . 228 

Mrs.  Gustavus  Brown . 231 

Hon.  Francis  Horner,  M.  P . 232 

Hon.  John  Scott  Horner  (ex-governor  of  Michigan  Territory)  .  .  .  234 

Mrs.  Frederick  Horner . 239 

“  Rose  Hill”  (residence  of  Gustavus  Richard  Brown,  M.D.)  ....  241 
The  author  and  family  at  the  “  Moorings,”  Fauquier  County,  Va.  .  244 

Medical  Director  G.  R.  B.  Horner,  U  S.  N . 246 

ix 


COMMISSARY  JAMES  BLAIR,  M.A. 
(Founder  of  William  and  Mary  College). 


THE  HISTORY 


OF  THE 

BLAIR,  BANISTER,  AND  BRAXTON  FAMILIES. 


part  H. 

THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


CHAPTER  L 

SKETCHES  OF  THE  TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR,  1743. 

Bishop  Meade,  in  “  Old  Churches  and  Families  of 
Virginia,”  thus  writes : 

“  Commissary  James  Blair,  B.D.,  was  a  native  of  Scot¬ 
land,  removing  to  England  at  the  death  of  Mr.  "Whately 
in  1685.  He  was'  appointed  hy  the  bishop  of  London 
commissary  of  the  churches  in  the  colony  of  Virginia. 
He  settled  in  the  county  of  Henrico  and  was  minister  of 
Henrico  Parish  for  nine  years.  In  1694  he  removed  to 
Jamestown,  to  be  more  convenient  to  William  and  Mary 
College.  In  1710  he  became  minister  of  Bruton  Parish, 
including  the  city  of  Williamsburg.  His  congregation 
was  composed  of  the  authority  and  intelligence,  the  fashion 
and  wealth  of  the  State,  besides  the  youth  of  the  college. 
He  was  a  hale,  hearty,  red-feced  gentleman,  dressed  en¬ 
tirely  in  black  velvet,  with  ruffles  at  his  wrist  and  broad, 
shining  silver  buckles  at  his  knees  and  shoes,  and  much 
addicted  to  taking  snuff,  a  box  for  which  he  carried  often 

2  19 


20 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


in  his  hand.  He  was  sprightly  in  disposition,  though 
grave  at  times. 

“  At  the  instance  of  Dr.  Blair,  in  1691  the  Virginian 
assembly  entered  heartily  into  the  scheme  of  founding  a 
college.  In  the  same  year  he  was  despatched  with  an 
address  to  their  majesties.  King  William  and  Queen 
Mary,  soliciting  a  charter.  Commissary  Blair  was  gra¬ 
ciously  received  at  court,  and  in  February,  1692,  their 
majesties  granted  the  charter.  The  college  was  named 
in  honor  of  them.  Dr.  Blair  represented  that  ‘the  inten¬ 
tion  in  founding  a  college  was  to  educate  and  qualify 
young  men  to  be  ministers  of  the  gospel,  to  furnish  a 
seminary  for  the  education  of  the  youth  of  the  colony, 
that  they  may  he  piously  instructed  in  good  letters  and 
manners,  and  that  the  Christian  faith  may  be  propagated 
among  the  western  Indians.’ 

“  To  the  exertions  of  this  eminent  and  learned  divine, 
the  college  of  William  and  Mary  owed  much  of  its  pros¬ 
perity.  By  virtue  of  the  charter,  his  office  of  president 
of  the  institution  was  for  life.  With  the  governor  of  Vir¬ 
ginia,  as  commissary,  he  had  the  superintendence  of  the 
clergy,  was  the  representative  of  the  bishop  of  London, 
having  joint  authority  with  the  visitors  and  professors  of 
the  college,  was  member  of  the  council,  consulting  with 
the  governor  on  all  the  concerns  of  the  colony,  civil  and 
religious,  and  with  the  council,  composing  the  first  men 
in  Virginia,  was  the  judicial  head  to  whom  all  important 
causes  were  referred  for  final  decision.  Previous  to  Dr. 
Blair’s  appointment  as  commissary  he  acted  as  missionary. 
His  benignant  face  may  still  be  seen  in  his  portrait,*  to 
be  seen  in  the  Blue  Room  of  the  college  at  Williams¬ 
burg.” 

At  this  period  the  church  government  was  settled  by 
giving  the  people  the  entire  control  of  the  vestry,  while 
the  appointment  of  ministers,  church  wardens,  the  care 
of  the  poor,  and  parochial  matters  were  entrusted  to  the 
people  of  each  parish.  In  1720  the  Blue  Ridge  range  of 


*  (Herewith  given  on  the  frontispiece  and  copied  from  the  original  oil 
painting.) 


(Founder  of  William  and  Mary  College). 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR.  21 

mountains  was  virtually  the  western  boundary  of  Virginia. 
The  Rev.  Peter  Fontaine  says  of  the  inhabitants : 

“  A  long  interval  of  tranquillity  had  enervated  the 
planters,  luxury  had  introduced  effeminate  manners  and 
dissolute  habits.  To  feast  and  riot  and  to  pamper  horses, 
these  are  the  grand  affairs  that  almost  engross  the  atten¬ 
tion  of  some  of  our  great  men,  and  little,  low-lived  sinners 
imitate.  The  character  of  the  people  for  hospitality  and 
expense  was  now  decided.  Drinking  parties  were  then 
fashionable,  in  which  the  strongest  head  or  stomach 
gained  the  victory.  The  moments  that  could  he  spared 
from  the  bottle  were  devoted  to  cards.  Swearing  was 
most  common.  The  intemperance  of  the  clergy  and  laity 
at  this  period  was  marked,  and  a  torrent  of  wickedness 
flowed  over  England  and  America.” 

Dr.  Blair  thought  there  were  limits  to  submission,  and 
inveighed  against  such  corruption  from  the  pulpit.  He 
disclosed  the  fact  that  with  the  great  increase  of  female 
professors  of  religion,  there  was  not  an  increase  of  true 
piety.  The  love  of  dress,  of  fashionable  parties,  of  light 
reading,  and  idle  conversation  had  increased  among  those 
who  professed  to  have  renounced  the  pomps  and  vanities 
of  the  world.  His  first  controversy  was  with  Governor 
Andros,  who  came  to  Virginia  under  no  good  character 
from  Hew  York. 

Hot  unlike  the  governors  of  distant  provinces,  who 
have  been  proverbially  corrupt  and  tyrannical  men,  he 
assailed  Dr.  Blair  in  1694  and  suspended  him  from  his 
place  in  the  council.  In  1695,  while  in  England,  the 
doctor  preferred  charges  against  Andros  as  an  enemy  to 
religion,  to  the  church,  the  clergy,  and  the  college.  The 
trial  was  held  at  Lambeth  Palace.  Dr.  Blair’s  accusers. 
Colonel  Byrd,  Messrs.  Harrison  and  Marshall,  were  sig¬ 
nally  defeated.  The  dispute  would  probably  have  not 
occurred  had  not  the  king  invested  the  unjust  governor 
with  the  powers  of  representative  of  the  bishop  of  London 


22 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILAL 


at  the  time  wlien  Commissary  Blair  was  acting  in  this 
capacity. 

The  college  of  William  and  Mary,  over  which  Dr.  Blair 
presided,  had  superior  accommodations.  The  building 
was  planned  hy  Sir  Christopher  Wren. 

“  It  fronts  and  looks  due  east  and  is  one  hundred  and 
thirty-six  feet  long,  and  is  a  lofty  pile  of  brick  buildings 
adorned  with  a  cupola.  At  the  north  end  runs  back  a  large 
wing  with  a  handsome  hall,  answerable  to  which  the  chapel 
is  built.  There  is  a  spacious  piazza  on  the  west  side  from 
one  wing  to  the  other.  It  is  approached  by  a  good  walk 
and  a  grand  entrance  by  steps,  with  good  courts  and  gai’- 
dens  about  it  and  outhouses,  and  a  large  pasture  enclosed 
like  a  park  with  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  adjoin¬ 
ing  for  occasional  uses.  The  building  is  beautiful  and 
commodious,  adapted  to  the  nature  of  the  country,  and  is 
not  unlike  Chelsea  Hospital.  In  the  centre  of  the  lawn  is 
a  mutilated  statue  of  Lord  Botetourt,  one  of  the  most 
popular  of  the  old  colonial  governors.  The  statue  was 
dedicated  in  1797. 

“  This  royal  foundation  was  granted  and  established 
hy  the  charter  of  King  William  and  Queen  Mary,  and 
endowed  by  them  with  several  thousand  acres  of  land. 
Rev.  James  Blair’s  salary  was  one  hundred  pounds  ster¬ 
ling  per  annum.  The  assembly  held  their  sessions  in  it 
for  several  years.  In  1704  the  college  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  It  was  rebuilt  in  1714  by  Colonel  Alexander  Spotts- 
wood,  who  was  sent  over  as  lieutenant-governor.  The 
arrival  of  this  energetic  man  in  the  colony  was  hailed 
with  joy,  because  he  brought  with  him  the  right  of  habeas 
corpus,  a  right  which,  though  guaranteed  to  Englishmen, 
had  been  hitherto  denied  the  colonies.  Aided  by  Mr. 
Cary  as  superintendent,  the  college  was  rebuilt  and  im¬ 
proved.  It  became  as  much  a  school  for  Christianizing 
the  savages,  chiefly  the  Shawnee  Tribes,  as  for  general 
purposes  of  education.  In  the  palmy  days  of  the  colony, 
the  commencement  at  William  and  Mary  College  was 
attended  by  a  great  concourse  of  people.  The  planters 
came  thither  in  coaches  and  in  sloops  from  Kew  York, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland,  it  being  a  new  thing  in  that 


WILLIAM  AND  MARY  COLLEGE. 


>.■  ''.-Is 


1 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR. 


23 


part  of  America  to  hear  graduates  perform  their  exercises. 
The  Indians  themselves  had  the  curiosity,  some  of  them, 
to  visit  Williamsburg  upon  that  occasion.  The  whole 
country  rejoiced,  as  if  they  had  some  relish  of  learning. 
The  city  of  Williamsburg,  of  which  a  brief  description 
may  be  given,  was  one  of  the  ancient  capitals  of  Virginia.* 
It  was  first  laid  out  in  the  shape  of  the  letter  W,  in  honor 
of  the  prince  after  whom  it  was  named  and  through  whose 
munificence  its  principal  ornament  was  first  endowed. 
This  strange  and  even  enigmatical  plot  of  the  town  was, 
however,  soon  abandoned  for  one  more  consonant  with 
the  natural  features  of  its  admirable  position. 

“  The  houses  of  the  gentry  were  principally  built  upon 
the  great  thoroughfare  then  called  the  Duke  of  Gloucester 
Street.  At  one  end  and  immediately  at  right  angles  to 
it  stood  and  yet  stands  William  and  Mary  College ;  and 
at  the  other,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant,  the 
Capitol.  These  two  edifices  at  once  gave  a  character  and 
dignity  to  the  place,  and  the  traveller  even  now  turns  his 
head  naturally  first  to  the  one  and  then  to  the  other  as  he 
enters  the  ancient  city.  The  old  ruinous  walls  were  once 
vocal  with  the  eloquence  of  Patrick  Henry,  and  amid  the 
academic  shades  once  wandered  in  the  days  of  their  boy¬ 
hood  Jefferson  and  Madison. 

“  There  is  an  air  of  repose  about  this  village  city  so 
interesting  from  its  historic  associations.  It  is  the  oldest 
incorporated  town  in  Virginia;  Avas  first  known  as  the 
Middle  Plantation,  and  was  settled  first  in  1632,  princi¬ 
pally  from  JamestoAvn.  In  1698  the  seat  of  government 
was  removed  here  from  that  place. 

“  The  meeting  of  the  assembly  drew  croAvds  to  the  city. 
In  the  back  streets  and  lanes  horses  Avere  tied  to  the  fences, 
while  Gloucester  Street,  the  Palace,  Capitol,  and  Market 
Green  Avere  filled  Avith  a  dense  throng  of  men.  The 


*  In  October,  1692-93,  an  act  of  the  assembly  was  passed  to  ascertain 
the  place  for  erecting  the  college  of  William  and  Mary,  “the  first  col¬ 
lege  on  the  American  Continent.” 

“  On  the  campus  of  this  college  at  Williamsburg  was  erected  a  statue 
to  Norbonne  Berkeley,  Baron  de  Botetourt,  the  good  governor  of  Vir¬ 
ginia,  as  he  was  called.”  (Refer  to  “  History  of  the  Lower  Shenandoah 
Valley,”  by  J.  E.  Norris.) 


24 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


farmer  wore  homespun.  Huge  buckles  were  the  fasten¬ 
ings  of  his  hose  at  the  knee  and  of  his  shoes.  Carriages 
filled  with  elegantly  dressed  ladies  were  seen  sweeping  up 
the  Capitol  green  in  one  direction.  The  young  bloods  on 
fine  prancing  steeds  were  endeavoring  to  force  their  way 
througli  the  crowd.  Policemen  and  grinning  cufiies  were 
also  numerous.” — Campbell’s  History  op  Virginia. 

Under  the  caption  ‘‘  Historic  Houses :  the  Raleigh 
Tavern,”  by  Benson  J.  Lossing,  the  author  says : 

“  Williamsburg,  the  oldest  incorporated  town  in  Vir¬ 
ginia,  was  settled  in  1632,  and  was  known  as  the  ‘  Middle 
Plantation,’  being  half  way  between  the  James  and  York 
Rivers.  It  became  the  seat  of  government  of  Virginia  in 
1678.  It  was  made  a  market  town.  The  city  was  the 
residence  of  the  colonial  vice-regal  court,  and  during  the 
sessions  of  the  Assembly  of  Burgesses  it  became  a  theatre 
of  great  social  enjoyment  and  gayety.  The  resident  popu¬ 
lation  did  not  exceed  two  thousand  white  persons.  In  1710, 
when  Spottswood  was  governor,  the  Raleigh  Tavern  was 
built,  in  which  was  the  famous  Apollo-room,  a  drawing 
of  which  I  made  in  1848.  In  that  room  in  1769  Patrick 
Henry,  Thomas  Jefferson,  and  others  met  to  protest  against 
the  Stamp  Act,  thus  making  the  Raleigh  Tavern  to  Vir¬ 
ginia  what  Faneuil  Hall  is  to  Massachusetts.  Documents 
sent  out  to  provincial  assemblies  from  the  Raleigh  Tavern 
formed  the  first  sound  link  of  the  chain  that  united  a 
confederacy  which  gave  birth  to  a  great  nation.  A  fast 
was  appointed,  the  non-importation  act  was  adopted,  and 
delegates  appointed  to  represent  Virginia  in  the  Conti¬ 
nental  Congress  to  meet  in  Philadelphia.  In  1781, 
Washington  and  Rochambeau  met  in  the  Raleigh  Tavern 
to  make  their  final  plans  for  the  siege  of  Yorktown. 
Hence,”  says  the  eloquent  historian,  “the  Raleigh  Tavern 
at  Williamsburg,  Independence  Hall  at  Philadelphia,  and 
Faneuil  Hall  at  Boston  have  equal  claims  to  the  reverence 
of  every  American  citizen.” 

“  In  these  latter  days,  when  change  is  so  marked  a 
feature  of  society,  it  may  be  at  some  future  time  that  the 
descendants  of  the  restless  Southron  now  wanderers  on 
the  plains  of  California  may  yet  return  and  hunt  out  the 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR. 


25 


faded  and  perishing  memorials  of  their  forefathers  and 
cast  their  tents  beside  them  in  the  land  given  to  our 
fathers,  the  desolate  shores  of  Virginia  will  yet  blossom 
as  the  rose,  and  her  soil  will  still  be  the  birthplace  of  the 
patriot,  the  statesman,  and  the  warrior.  Social  aristoc¬ 
racy  and  public  equality  will  still  exhibit  a  rare  combina¬ 
tion,  and  talents  will  be  consecrated  through  hereditary 
descent.” 

“  In  1718  Dr.  Blair  complained  to  the  government  in 
London  that  Governor  Spottswood  had  infringed  the 
charter  of  the  colony  by  associating  inferior  men  with 
them  in  criminal  trials.  On  his  part,  he  ever  inclined  in 
his  sympathies  with  the  vestries  and  the  people.  His  trial 
on  the  charge  by  the  governor  that  the  king’s  government 
had  the  right  to  collate  ministers  to  ecclesiastical  benefices 
within  the  colony  took  place  at  the  college  of  William 
and  Mary  in  1719  in  the  convention  of  the  clergy  held  in 
compliance  with  the  direction  of  the  bishop  of  London. 
Dr.  Blair  again  bore  himself  with  excellent  temper  and 
proved  himself  more  than  a  match  for  his  opponents.  In 
the  reply  of  the  convention  to  the  bishop  they  reported  that 

“  ‘  All  the  ministers  in  Virginia  are  episcopally  ordained 
except  the  commissary ;  that  the  people  observed  no  holy 
days  except  Christmas  and  on  Good  Friday,  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord’s  Supper  is  administered  to  persons  who  are 
not  confirmed,  and  that  they  bury  at  private  houses.’ 

“  In  1743,  after  a  life  of  great  usefulness,  Dr.  Blair 
breathed  his  last.  One  of  his  latest  aspirations  was  to  the 
Father  of  Mercies  that  he  might  take  his  fiivorite  off¬ 
spring,  the  college  of  William  and  Mary,  under  the 
shadow  of  his  wing.  He  spent  sixty-two  years  in  the 
Christian  ministry.” — Old  Churches  and  Families  of 
Virginia. 

It  is  probable  that  his  faithful  preaching  and  correct 
moral  deportment  did  much  to  stem  that  torrent  of 
wickedness  which  in  his  day  flowed  over  the  land.  Few 
men  ever  contended  with  more  difficulties  or  surmounted 
them  better ;  few  clergymen  ever  were  engaged  with  such 
fierce  opponents  in  high  stations  and  overcame  them  as 


26 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


Di\  Blair.  At  his  death,  having  no  children,  he  left  his 
library  and  five  hundred  pounds  sterling  to  the  college 
and  ten  thousand  to  his  nephew,  John  Blair,  so  long 
president  of  the  council. 

His  tomb  may  be  seen  at  Jamestown. 

Among  the  most  enduring  literary  productions  of  Dr. 
Blair  are  the  four  volumes  of  sermons,  which  were  pub¬ 
lished  in  London  in  1722,  based  upon  “  Our  Saviour’s 
Divine  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  and  the  Practice  of  it 
Eecommended.” 

Dr.  Doddridge,  the  dissenter,  said  of  these  discourses, — 
“  That  there  was  a  beautiful  correspondence  between  the 
characters  described  in  these  beatitudes  and  the  blessings 
connected  with  them.”  Commenting  on  the  Doxology 
in  the  Lord’s  Prayer,  he  added,  “  It  is  very  ancient  and 
admirably  suits  and  enforces  every  petition.” 

Whitefield,  the  great  preacher,  who  came  to  Virginia  in 
1740,  in  his  Journal  says, — 

“  Paid  my  respects  to  Mr.  Blair,  commissary  of  Virginia. 
His  discourse  was  savoury,  such  as  tended  to  the  use  of 
edifying.  He  received  me  with  joy,  asked  me  to  preach, 
and  wished  my  stay  longer.” 

Dr.  Blair’s  great  labor  in  Virginia  was  not  to  prevent 
his  people  dissenting  from  the  established  church,  but  to 
supply  her  with  educated  men  and  the  church  with  a 
proper  ministry.  As  far  as  he  succeeded,  he  did  the  work 
of  a  true  churchman  and  patriot.  He  lived  to  the  vener¬ 
able  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  had  been  a  missionary  fifty- 
eight,  and  had  acted  as  commissary  fifty-four,  and  was 
president  of  the  college  for  fifty  years.  William  and 
Mary  College  is  his  enduring  monument.  We  cannot 
say  we  see  its  action  until  the  time  of  the  Revolution. 
There  is  no  evidence  that  disloyalty  was  ever  uttered  from 
a  professor’s  chair.  But  there  is  evidence  that  literature 
and  science  and  religion,  acting  upon  youthful  minds  in 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR.  27 

the  colony,  remote  from  the  fascinations  of  royalty,  made 
republicans. 

The  college  in  its  organization  was  Episcopal,  and 
probably  will  always  remain  so.  A  detailed  history  of  its 
origin,  progress,  and  changes,  with  a  notice  of  the  eminent 
men  that  were  its  alumni,  would  prove  a  volume  of  in¬ 
terest  to  the  church  to  which  it  ecclesiastically  belongs, 
and  of  value  to  the  cause  of  literature  and  religion. 
Every  man  would  like  to  know  more  of  the  mother  college 
at  the  South.* 

In  proof  of  the  high  appreciation  of  the  merits  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  Mr.  Hugh  Blair  Grigsby,  the  author 
of  a  “Discourse  on  the  Virginia  Convention  of  1776,”  de¬ 
livered  in  the  chapel  of  William  and  Mary  College,  says : 

“  If  I  thought  that  I  had  a  drop  of  blood  in  my  veins 
kindred  with  James  Blair’s,  I  would  not  exchange  it  for 
the  blood  of  the  proudest  knight  that  ever  won  his  spurs 
on  the  fields  of  Cressy  or  Poictiers.” 

In  praise  of  the  subject  of  the  preceding  memoir,  it 
may  be  said  in  the  language  of  an  eloquent  writer, — 

“  The  time  has  come  when  the  glory  of  him  who  builds 
a  hospital  for  the  relief  of  human  woe  for  ages  after  the 
heart  which  prompted  the  deed  has  ceased  to  beat,  and  of 
him  who  builds  a  college  for  the  difiusion  of  the  blessings 
of  knowledge  and  piety  among  the  people  long  after  the 


*  The  first  convocation  of  the  ministers  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of 
Virginia  took  place  at  Christ  Church,  in  Bruton  Parish,  Williamsburg, 
April  8,  1719,  under  Commissary  Blair,  and  twenty-five  ministers 
attended,  there  being  at  that  time  thirty-seven  ministers  of  the  church  in 
the  colony.  The  first  convention  of  the  church  in  Virginia  assembled  in 
Richmond,  May  18,  1785.  It  was  composed  of  thirty-six  clergymen  and 
seventy-one  laymen.  The  next  year  Rev.  David  Griffith  was  elected 
bishop  of  Virginia,  but  he  was  never  consecrated,  and  it  was  not  until 
1796  that  the  first  council  assembled  under  Bishop  Madison,  who,  with 
Bishops  Moore,  Meade,  Johns,  and  Whittle,  may  be  regarded  as  suc¬ 
cessors  of  the  founder  of  William  and  Mary  College. 


28 


THE  BLAIE  FAMILY. 


hand  which  reared  it  has  turned  to  dust,  is  deemed  by  the 
wise  and  the  good  greater  than  the  glory  of  ‘  him  who 
taketh  a  city.’  ” 

The  tomb  of  Rev.  James  Blair,  as  already  stated,  is  at 
Jamestown;  that  of  John  Blair,  Sr.,  and  his  wife,  Jean, 
is  in  the  churchyard  at  Williamsburg. 

“  Commissary  Blair  married  the  daughter  of  Philip 
Ludwell,  and  lived  on  a  farm  adjoining,  which  was  given 
to  him  by  his  father-in-law.  Thomas  Ludwell  was  secre¬ 
tary  of  Virginia,  born  at  Bruton,  Somerset  County,  Eng¬ 
land,  and  died  1678.” — Old  Churches  and  Families  of 
Virginia,  by  Bishop  Meade. 

“  Commissary  Blair,  though  a  Church  of  England  cler¬ 
gyman,  was  liberal.  For  this  Governor  Spottswood  pre¬ 
pared  charges  against  him  to  the  home  government,  viz. : 
that  he  would  let  a  layman  lead  the  service  for  him  in 
chureh,  and  even  the  burial  service  in  his  presence,  and 
wished  to  establish  lay-readers  in  the  parishes.  It  was 
charged,  also,  by  one  of  the  clergy,  that  Dr.  Blair  himself 
was  not  episcopally  ordained.  Dr.  Blair  triumphed  over 
these  enemies.  In  1724,  in  a  letter  to  the  bishop  of  Lon¬ 
don,  he  wrote :  ‘  I  have  two  examples  only  of  withdraw¬ 
ing  licenses  from  clergymen  who  were  evil  livers  in  all 
the  time  I  have  been  commissary,  now  thirty-four  years ; 
then  intemperance  among  the  clergy  and  laity  was  the 
great  sin  and  the  source  of  scandal  brought  upon  the 
Church  of  God,  but  the  difficulty,  as  now,  was  to  com¬ 
mand  witnesses  and  prosecutors.’” 

In  the  opinion  of  Bishop  Meade,  the  college  of  William 
and  Mary  owed  its  existence  to  him,  and  his  faithful 
preaching  and  correct  moral  deportment  did  much  to 
stem  that  torrent  of  wickedness  which  in  his  day  flowed 
over  England  and  her  American  colonies.  In  one  of  his 
sermons,  he  warns  his  hearers  against  such  worldliness  as 
theatres,  promiscuous  dances,  drunkenness,  and  gaming. 

‘‘  Throughout  his  ministry  he  was  a  faithful  reprover 
of  sin.  He  admitted  Mr.  Whitefield  into  his  pulpit,  but. 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR.  29 

when  the  bishop  of  London  proscribed  the  latter,  made 
a  kind  of  apology  for  it.” 

Thus  it  would  appear  by  this  act  Dr.  Blair  deferred 
somewhat  to  the  praise  of  man,  thereby  failing,  as  many 
in  our  day,  to  choose  “  rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the 
people  of  God,”  and  to  esteem  the  reproach  of  Christ 
greater  riches  than  this  world  can  bestow. 

“  From  the  year  1607  to  1776  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
Virginia  was  under  the  English  church,  and  a  part  of  the 
diocese  of  the  bishop  of  London,  and  was  attached  to  the 
civil  government.  This  was  the  cause  of  much  trouble. 
During  all  this  time  no  bishop  came  to  this  country,  and 
there  were  no  confirmations  here.  This  worked  great 
injury  to  the  church,  and  was  one  of  the  causes  of  her 
distress.  The  prejudice  against  the  English  church  and 
everything  English  during  and  after  the  Revolutionary 
War  did  great  harm.  Many  of  the  clergy  were  Tories, 
and  the  close  of  the  war  found  the  church  in  a  sadly  dis¬ 
mantled  condition ;  her  property  was  taken  away  from 
her ;  other  bodies  of  Christiatis  were  violent  in  their  per¬ 
secutions  of  her.  The  first  bishop  of  Virginia  was  Bishop 
Madison,  who,  being  president  of  William  and  Mary  Col¬ 
lege,  did  little  for  the  revival  of  the  church.  The  second 
bishop  was  Richard  C.  Moore,  whose  loving  and  eloquent 
words  and  great  activity  did  much  for  the  revival  of  the 
church.  He  was  followed  by  Bishop  William  Meade, 
who  was  a  man  of  wonderful  ability,  consecration,  and 
activity.  He  died  during  the  late  war.  He  was  at  first 
the  assistant  of  Bishop  Moore,  and  contributed  to  expose 
the  immorality  of  a  bishop  of  an  adjoining  diocese  and  to 
have  him  deposed.  He  was  followed  by  Bishop  Johns, 
for  many  years  assistant  bishop.  He  was  an  eloquent  and 
effective  preacher.  He  was  succeeded  by  Bishop  F.  M. 
Whittle,  who  was  his  assistant,  and  who  is  now  bishop 
of  Virginia.  The  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  Vir¬ 
ginia  opened  its  one  hundred  and  first  annual  council  at 
St.  Paul’s  Church,  Alexandria,  Va.,  May  20.  The  first 
convocation  of  the  ministers  of  the  church  took  place  at 
Williamsburg,  Va.,  on  the  8th  of  April,  1719,  under 
Commissary  Blair,  and  twenty-five  ministers  attending. 


30 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


there  being  at  that  time  thirty-seven  ministers  of  the 
church  in  the  colony.  The  first  convention  of  the  church 
in  Virginia  assembled  in  Richmond  on  the  18th  day  of 
May,  1785.  It  was  composed  of  thirty-six  clergymen  and 
seventy-one  laymen.  The  next  year  Rev.  David  Griffith, 
who  was  Washington’s  friend  and  had  been  both  a  sur¬ 
geon  and  chaplain  in  the  Revolution,  was  elected  bishop  of 
Virginia,  but  he  was  never  consecrated,  and  it  was  not 
until  1796  that  the  first  council  (or  convention)  assembled 
under  Bishop  Madison,  so  that  the  present  council  (1896) 
is  the  one  hundred  and  first  of  the  church  as  now  organ¬ 
ized.  Rt.  Rev.  Francis  M.  Whittle,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  pre¬ 
sided,  with  Rt.  Rev.  John  B.  ISTewton,  M.D.,  as  assistant 
bishop,  and  Rev.  Everard  Meade,  of  Richmond,  as  secre¬ 
tary.” — Extracts  from  Southern  Churchman. 

In  connection  with  the  above  extract  concerning  the 
Episcopal  Church  of  Virginia,  Bruton  Parish  Church, 
founded  in  1632  at  Williamsburg,  Va.,  may  he  considered 
the  cradle  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  America,  and,  while 
episcopal  ordination  as  a  bishop  was  wrongly  withheld  from 
Commissary  James  Blair,  he  was  practically  the  head  of  the 
Episcopacy  in  America  as  a  minister,  author,  and  teacher. 

Governor  Gooch,  of  Virginia,  in  a  letter  to  the  bishop 
of  London,  informs  him  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Blair,  and 
that  he  had  left  his  library  and  five  hundred  pounds  to 
the  college  and  ten  thousand  to  his  nephew,  Hon.  John 
Blair,  and  the  children  of  his  nephew,  besides  some  smaller 
legacies.  His  nephew  was  Mr.  John  Blair,  who  was  so 
long  president  of  the  council  of  Virginia.  The  son  of 
Hon.  John  Blair,  bearing  his  father’s  name,  was  distin¬ 
guished  as  a  patriot,  statesman,  and  jurist.  He  was  known 
as  Chancellor  Blair,  and  represented  the  college  of  Wil¬ 
liam  and  Mary  in  the  House  of  Burgesses  for  a  long  time, 
took  an  active  part  in  all  the  Revolutionary  movements, 
was  a  member  of  the  great  convention  which  met  to  re¬ 
vise  the  Articles  of  Confederation,  and  finally  was  made 
one  of  the  judges  of  the  Federal  Supreme  Court. 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR. 


31 


As  stated  in  tlie  quotation  from  Bishop  Meade’s  vol¬ 
ume,  Judge  Blair  was  one  of  the  delegates  (ex-President 
Madison  being  the  other)  to  the  convention  which  met 
May  25,  1787,  in  Philadelphia,  and  which  framed  the 
Federal  Constitution,  and  thereby  completing  the  Federal 
Union,  styled  the  United  States  of  America.  In  this 
convention  two  opinions  were  held :  the  one  desired  to 
merge  all  the  States  in  one  indivisible  republic,  the  other 
to  keep  the  mutual  independence  of  the  thirteen  States, 
only  uniting  them  in  a  league  for  commerce  and  other 
special  purposes.  The  first  opinion  prevailed,  though 
opposed.  Patrick  Henry  objected  mainly  to  the  first 
three  words,  “We,  the  people,”  insisting  that  the  con¬ 
vention  was  called  only  to  form  an  alliance  of  States. 
Virginia  ratified  the  Constitution,  however,  with  the  full 
understanding  that  it  united  all  the  people  of  all  the  States 
under  one  government, 

“  On  the  island  where  stood  Jamestown  may  be  seen 
the  remains  of  the  tombs  of  Commissary  James  Blair  and 
Mrs.  Blair  and  her  mother,  Sarah  Grymes,  of  Middlesex. 
The  tombs  were  placed  side  by  side  and  were  very  heavy 
and  strong;  the  platform,  sides,  and  ends  were  of  white 
freestone,  and  the  interior  filled  wifh  bricks  well  cemented. 
The  top  slabs  on  which  the  inscriptions  were  made  are  of 
thick,  dark  iron-stone  or  black  marble.  A  sycamore- 
shoot  sprung  up  between  the  graves  and  is  now  a  large 
tree.  One-third  of  the  tomb  of  Mrs.  Blair  its  growth 
embraces,  and  it  lies  embedded  and  immovable  in  the 
body  of  the  tree.  The  dark  iron-stone  slab  is  held  in  the 
air  three  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  earth.  It  is  sunk 
between  one  and  two  feet,  the  inscription  being  only  par¬ 
tially  legible.  On  the  other  side  the  whole  tomb  of  Com¬ 
missary  Blair  is  forced  away  by  the  roots  of  the  tree  and 
is  broken  to  pieces  in  all  its  parts.  There  are  two  or  three 
fragments  scattered  on  which  is  made  out  the  following 
inscription  in  Latin,  furnished  and  translated  by  Mr. 
Hugh  Blair  Grigsby,  a  descendant  of  Commissary  Blair’s 
brother : 


32 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


“  ‘  Here  lies  buried 
The  Reverend  and  the  Honorable 
James  Blair,  A.M., 

who  was  born  in  Scotland,  was  educated  in  the  College  of  Edinburg,  and 
emigrated  to  England  and  thence  to  Virginia,  in  which  colony  he  spent 
fifty-eight  years  as  an  Evangelist,  Deacon  and  Priest  of  the  Church  of 
England  and  fifty-four  years  as  Commissary  of  the  Bishop  of  London. 

“  ‘  He  was  the  Founder  and  first  President  of  William  and  Mary  Col¬ 
lege,  a  member  of  the  Council  and  subsequently  its  President  and,  as 
such,  in  the  absence  of  the  representative  of  the  King,  the  Governor  of 
the  Colony. 

“  ‘  He  sustained  his  various  offices  with  the  approbation  of  his  fellow- 
men  while  he  illustrated  in  his  life  those  graces  which  adorn  the  Christian 
character. 

“  ‘  He  had  a  handsome  person,  and  in  the  family  circle  blended  cheer¬ 
fulness  with  piety. 

“  ‘He  was  a  generous  friend  of  the  poor,  and  was  prompt  in  lending 
assistance  to  all  who  needed  it. 

“  ‘  He  was  a  liberal  benefactor  of  the  College  during  his  life,  and  at  his 
death  bequeathed  to  it  his  libi’ary  with  the  hope  that  his  books — which 
were  mostly  religious — might  lead  the  student  to  those  things  that  per¬ 
tain  to  Salvation.  He  died  on  the  -  day  of  the  Calends  of  May 

[August,  rather]  in  the  year  1743,  aged  eighty-eight  years,  exhibiting  to 
the  last  those  graces  which  make  old  age  lovely,  and  lamented  by  all,  es¬ 
pecially  by  his  nephews,  who  have  reared  this  stone  to  commemorate 
those  virtues  which  will  long  survive  the  marble  that  records  them.’  ” 

The  college  of  William  and  Mary  which  he  founded, 
and  named  in  honor  of  the  Hollandaise  line  of  British 
sovereigns,  has  been  several  times  destroyed,  as  already 
stated,  the  last  time  during  the  late  war  between  the 
States  of  the  Union,  1861-65,  but  each  time  has  been 
rebuilt.  During  the  year  1893  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States  appropriated  sixty-five  thousand  dollars  towards 
the  repairs  of  injuries  sustained  by  the  college  buildings 
while  the  city  of  Williamsburg  was  held  by  the  Federal 
army.  The  handsome  oil  portrait  of  Commissary  Blair 
fortunately  suffered  no  damage,  being  removed  from  the 
library  each  time  by  some  friendly  hand,  and  its  copy  in 
this  volume  will  now  insure  its  perpetuation  to  posterity. 

In  1815,  Dr.  J.  Augustine  Smith,  president  of  the  faculty 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR. 


33 


of  William  and  Mary  College,  proposed  to  Bishop  Moore 
to  establish  in  the  college  a  theological  chair,  where  there 
was  already  a  library  formed  by  Drs.  Blair  and  Bray.  In 
1820  Rev.  Mr.  Keith  received  this  appointment.* 

The  author  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Hugh  Blair,  of  Rich¬ 
mond,  for  the  following  information  : 

“  My  father  was  James  Blair,  M.D.,  alumnus  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania.  His  father  and  grandfather 
were  clergymen, — Rev.  John  D.  Blair  and  Rev.  John  Blair. 
Foote’s  ‘Sketches  of  Virginia;’  ‘Log  College,’  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Alexander;  Appleton’s  ‘Biographical  Encyclopaedia;’ 
and  Colonel  George  Wythe  Munford’s  unpretentious  but 
pleasant  hook,  ‘  The  Two  Parsons’  (Buchanan  and  Blair), 
convey  a  great  deal  of  information  of  this  branch  of  the 
Blair  family.  Francis  P.  Blair,  Sr.,  the  great  journalist 
of  Washington  City,  was  my  grandfather’s  nephew. 

“  ‘  History  of  the  Bolling  Family’  contains  fourteen 
photographs  from  old  portraits.  Among  these  are  Judge 
John  Blair,  who  signed  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  on  behalf  of  Virginia,  and  one  of  Elizabeth  Blair, 
who  married  John  Bolling,  August  1,  1728.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Archibald  Blair  and  niece  of  James  Blair. 
Query.  Was  the  first  John  Blair,  also  the  nephew  of 
Commissary  Blair,  the  son  of  Archibald  Blair  ?t  It  seems 


*  Old  St.  Luke’s,  or  “  Brick  Church,”  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  Virginia, 
the  oldest  church  in  America,  built  in  1G32,  more  than  two  hundred  and 
fifty  years  ago,  five  miles  from  Smithfield,  on  the  road  to  Suffolk,  has  in 
it  seventeen  memorial  windows,  among  which  are  those  in  honor  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Blair,  founder  of  William  and  Mary  College,  and  Bishops  Madison, 
Moore,  Meade,  and  Johns.  The  date  of  its  construction  was  contem¬ 
porary  with  the  war  between  King  Charles  and  his  Parliament  and  the 
rise  of  Oliver  Cromwell.  Among  the  seventeen  memorial  windows  are 
those  of  Washington,  E.  E.  Lee,  Captain  John  Smith,  John  Eolfe,  Poca¬ 
hontas,  Sir  Walter  Ealeigh,  and  a  beautiful  English  window  in  honor  of 
the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  a  society 
which  sent  Commissary  Blair  to  America. 

f  A  letter  dated  Richmond,  April  21,  1792,  is  signed,  “  A.  Blair,” 
doubtless  Mr.  Archibald  Blair,  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  of  that  city.  It 
is  addressed  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Whiting,  the  only  child  of  Mrs.  George 
Braxton.  The  writer  says  :  “  I  know  not  whether  my  advice  will  be  taken 


34 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


(see  Appleton’s  Encyclopfedia)  that  Rev.  James  Blair  was 
a  Scotchman  and  came  through  England  to  Virginia.  By 
reference  to  Reade’s  Killer’s  ‘  History  of  the  Presbyterian 
Chnreh  in  Ireland’  will  he  found  an  account  of  the  man 
who  was  prominent  above  all  others  in  introducing  serious 
and  true  religion  among  James  I.’s  subjects.  James  per¬ 
suaded  him  to  colonize  in  the  Korth  of  Ireland,  He  had 
been  professor  in  the  Eni versify  of  Glasgow.  His  influ¬ 
ence  is  still  felt  direct! jGn  the  establishment  of  the  liberties 
of  America  through  the  Scotch-Irish  population  of  our 
Revolutionary  period  and  subsequently.  His  name  was 
Robert  Blair ;  from  him  descended  Hugh  Blair,  the  author 
of  ‘Blair’s  Rhetoric’  and  professor  in  the  University  of 
Edinburgh,  and  Robert  Blair,  the  author  of  the  celebrated 
poem  ‘  The  Grave.’  Probably  James  Blair  and  his  family 
(the  reasons  for  the  supposition  space  will  not  allow  to  be 
given)  were  of  the  family  of  Robert  Blair. 

“  I  cannot  trace  our  family  farther  back  than  1720, 
when  my  great  grandfather,  then  a  hoy  of  six  years,  came 
to  this  country  from  the  Korth  of  Ireland.  My  grand¬ 
mother  was  wont  to  recall  the  relationship  betwmen  our 
branch  of  the  Blair  family  and  that  of  the  celebrated 
divine  and  rhetorician,  a  portrait  of  whom  is  among  the 
illustrations  of  the  ‘  History  of  the  Bolling  Family,’  ” 

The  above  extract  from  Mr.  Hugh  Blair’s  interesting 
letter  will  convey  to  the  reader  data  proving  the  identity 
of  the  Blair  family  in  this  country  and  in  Scotland,  and 
also  contribute  to  furnish  a  clue  to  the  origin  of  both 
branches  in  Scotland  and  in  Ireland.  Hence  the  impor¬ 
tance  of  descendants  in  America  perpetuating  a  live  record 
of  ancestors  whose  deeds  stand  out  so  prominently  upon 
the  pages  of  American  history. 

Professor  Lyon  G.  Tyler,  dean  of  the  faculty  of  the 


in  good  part,  but  if  it  should  not,  I  shall  feel  sufficient  gratification  in 
having  done  what  I  conceived  to  be  an  act  of  friendship  without  any 
possible  hope  of  self-interest.  If  Mr.  Hugh  Blair’s  conjecture  that 
Archibald  Blair  was  the  father  of  John  Blair,  Sr.,  of  Williamsburg,  be 
correct,  Mrs.  Whiting  would  have  been  the  former’s  great-niece.” 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR.  35 

college  of  William  and  Mary,  under  date  of  June  7,  1890, 
thus  writes : 

“We  have  two  portraits  of  Dr.  James  Blair  and  one  of  his  wife, 
Sarah  Blair.  We  have  no  objection  to  your  having  them  or  any  of  them 
copied.  Mrs.  J.  B.  C.  Spencer,  of  this  town,  who  was  a  Miss  Peachy, 
has  a  portrait  of  John  Blair  which  she  has  had  photographed.  She  has 
also  the  Masonic  jewel  which  he  wore  as  Grand  Master  of  Masons.  For 
an  interesting  account  of  Dr.  Blair  see  the  ‘  Annals  of  the  American 
Churches,’  by  Sprague,  of  New  York.  The  magazine  called  Church 
Register  contains  information  about  Dr.  Blair  and  Perry’s  ‘  Historical 
Collections’  contain  many  of  his  letters. 

“  John  Blair  was  bursar  of  this  institution,  and  I  have  the  account- 
books  kept  by  him.  The  various  authorities  [?]  get  the  death  of  Dr. 
James  Blair  wrong.  He  did  not  die  in  August,  but  on  the  18th  April, 
1743.  This  is  attested  by  Sir  Wm.  Gooch,  the  faculty  book,  a  manuscript 
of  John  Blair,  etc. 

“I  recently  heard  from  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  and  they  state 
that  a  Dr.  James  Blair  took  his  A.M.  at  Edinburgh  in  1671,  but  this  was 
too  early  a  date  for  our  doctor. 

“  Yours,  truly, 

“  Lyon  G.  Tyler. 

“William  and  Mary  College.’’ 

March  3,  1891,  Professor  Tyler  writes  : 

“  I  have  been  recently  appointed  by  the  county  court 
of  York  superintendent  in  respect  to  the  rebinding  of  the 
County  Records,  and  under  niy  authority  I  have  taken 
from  the  clerk’s  office  the  first  six  books.  I  expect  to  find 
much  that  is  interesting  to  you  relative  to  the  Blair  family, 
hut  it  will  be  some  time  yet  before  I  reach  the  period  when 
they  appear  in  the  Records.  Dr.  Archibald  Blair,  brother 
of  the  commissary,  and  his  nephew,  John  Blair,  president 
of  the  council,  lived  in  York  County,  and  so  did  John 
Blair,  Jr.,  whose  will  I  have  seen  on  record  there.  Most 
of  Williamsburg  lay  in  that  county.  We  have  the  two 
portraits  of  James  Blair,  D.D.,  and  one  of  Sarah  Harrison 
Blair,  his  wife,  which  hang  in  the  college  library.  We 
have  no  portrait  of  John  Blair.  Mrs.  J.  B.  Spencer,  of 
Williamsburg,  was  a  Peachy,  and  is  a  lineal  descendant 
of  John  Blair.  I  am  sure  she  would  be  pleased  to  assist 
you  in  any  way.” 


3 


36 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


Professor  Tyler  adds : 

“  John  Blair  and  John  Blair,  Jr.,  \yere  both  bursars  of 
"William  and  Mary,  and  the  account-hooks  kept  by  the 
latter  are  still  preserved  here.  I  have  had  recently  copied 
from  the  archives  of  Great  Britain  the  various  manu¬ 
scripts  which  led  to  the  establishment  of  the  college,  in 
all  of  which  Dr.  James  Blair  bore  the  leading  part.  I 
think  that  the  portrait  of  Dr.  Blair  has  been  photo¬ 
graphed.  Mrs.  Spencer  could  inform  you  on  this  point.” 

Professor  Tyler’s  statement  that  Dr.  James  Blair  took 
his  A.M.  at  Edinburgh  in  1671  surely  confirms  the  identity 
of  this  student  as  the  founder  of  William  and  Mary  Col¬ 
lege.  Born  in  1655,  at  the  University  of  Edinburgh  at 
the  age  of  sixteen.  According  to  Bishop  Meade’s  au¬ 
thority,  “  Old  Churches  and  Families  of  Virginia,”  he  died 
1743,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight.  Born  1655,  graduated 
1671.  Might  he  not  have  done  this  at  the  age  of  sixteen  ? 

Under  date  of  October  6,  1893,  Professor  Lyon  G. 
Tyler  says : 

“  I  enclose  a  scrap  which  will  give  you  the  inscription  on 
the  tomb  of  Mrs.  Christian  Monro,  discovered  by  myself 
by  creeping  under  the  floor  of  the  church  (Bruton  Parish 
Church).  The  slab  has  the  following  inscription  : 

“  ‘  Here  lie  Deposited 
the  Remains  of  M”  Christian  AIonro 
Relict  of  the  Rev'^  M'  John  Monro 
Late  Minister  of  St  John®  Parish 
In  the  County  of  King  William 
She  departed  this  life  the  23'''*  of  September 
1725  in  the  60^*“  year  of  her  age. 

“  ‘  Here  also  Rests, 

the  Body  of  Mary  Blair  grand-daughter 
of  John  and  Christian  Monro, 
by  their  only  surviving  child 
Mary  the  wife  of  John  Blair  Esqr 
She  departed  y®  1®*'  of  April  1730, 

In  y®  second  year  of  her  age 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR. 


37 


“  ‘  Also, 

Sarah  Archer  daughter  of  the 
Said  John  &  Mary  Blair  who  died  Febr 
the  19  :  1735.  Aged  3  Months  &  12  Days.’  ” 

(Ext.  from  William  and  Marii  College  Quarterhj,  editor, 
Lyon  G.  Tyler,  M.D.) 

In  connection  with  the  authority  concerning  the  date 
of  the  graduation  of  James  Blair,  through  the  kindness 
of  the  author’s  brother-in-law,  George  Ross  Sherman, 
Esq.,  of  the  steamer  “Durham,”  Royal  Havy,  the  follow¬ 
ing  certificate  was  sent  me  : 

“  I  hereby  certify  that  James  piair  received  the  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts  (M.A.)  from  the  University  of  Edinburgh  in  the  year  1G73. 

“  J.  Gilbert, 

“  Clerk  o/  Senaius. 

“  24th  November,  1893.” 

Mr.  Sherman  writes  : 

“  Perhaps  you  are  aware  that  two  hundred  years  ago 
the  records  of  the  university  were  not  kept  like  they  are 
now.  However,  there  is  unmistakable  evidence  of  the 
degree  of  M.A.  being  conferred  on  Mr.  Jacobus  Blair, 
A.D.  1673.  Herewith  you  will  find  a  certificate  to  that 
efiect.  At  the  present  time  when  you  enter  the  university 
they  record  your  age,  previous  occupation,  and  many 
other  particulars,  but  there  is  no  record  of  what  they  did 
in  1673  except  the  names  of  the  individuals  and  the  de¬ 
grees  conferred. 

“  Hence,  there  is  two  years’  difference  between  the 
data  furnished  Professor  Lyon  G.  Tyler  and  the  above, 
viz.,  1673-‘167l.’  By  the  corrected  data,  allowing  Dr. 
James  Blair  to  have  been  horn  in  1655  (“  Old  Churches 
and  Families  of  Virginia”)  and  to  have  graduated  1673, 
he  would  have  been  eighteen  years  old,  which  might  have 
occurred  in  the  person  of  one  so  talented  and  learned,  and 
to  which  his  whole  life  testified.  Through  the  kindness 
of  Professor  Lyon  G.  Tyler,  plainly  the  inheritor  of  the 
legal  acumen  of  his  father,  the  late  President  John  Tyler, 
whose  second  wife  was  the  mother  of  Professor  Tyler,  the 


38 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


following  data  obtained  from  the  York  record  books  is 
fnrnisbed  me  :  Under  date  of  Jnne  24,  1703,  ‘Archibald 
Blair  &  Sarah  Ms  wife  Executrix  of  y®  last  will  and  testa¬ 
ment  of  Bartholomew  Fowler  plaintift*  vs.  Thomas  Cliis- 
man  defendant.’  This  is  an  evidence  that  the  first  wife 
of  Dr.  Blair  was  Sarah,  widow  of  Bartholomew  Fowler, 
Esq.,  the  king’s  attorney-general  for  the  colony.  His 
second  wife  was  only  daughter  of  Colonel  William  Wilson 
and  widow  of  Colonel  Miles  Cary.  Mary  Wilson  mar¬ 
ried  (1)  William  Boxen,  (2)  in  1702,  Colonel  Miles  Cary, 
and  (3)  Dr.  Archibald  Blair,  ahont  1720.  She  was  born 
October,  1675,  and  died  January  11,  1741,  in  her  sixty- 
seventh  year,  and  was  buried  in  the  same  tomb  with  her 
husband.  See  the  inscription  on  the  tomb  of  William 
Boxen  at  Blunt’s  Point,  Warwick  County,  published  in 
William  and  Mary  College  Quarterly  for  October,  1893. 

“  In  1752  there  lived  in  James  City  County  James  Blair, 
who  was  a  kinsman  of  John  Blair,  Sr.  His  son  of  that 
name  died  December  26,  1773,  in  his  thirty-second  year. 
(John  Blair’s  Diary.)  In  1752  John  Blair  wrote,  ‘James 
Blair  is,  I  hear,  arrested  for  two  hundred  pounds,  in  which 
I  cannot  assist  him.’  This  James  Blair  was  evidently  the 
father  of  Archibald  Blair,  of  Bichmond,  who  married,  in 
1787,  Molly  Whiting,  of  Oloster.  We  are  working  on  a 
General  Catalogue  of  the  College.” 


In  data  of  “  Historical  and  Genealogical  Botes”  of  Wil¬ 
liam  and  Mary  College  Quarterly  are  presented  the  follow¬ 
ing  by  Editor  Lyon  G.  Tyler,  M.A.,  LL.D.  : 

“Blair. — Bev.  James  Blair  took  A.M.  at  Edinburgh 
in  1673.  Archibald  Blair,  his  brother,  was  there  in  1685. 
(Matriculation  entries.)  The  former  had  no  children. 
The  latter  married  at  least  three  times.  By  his  first  wife, 
unknown,  he  had  John  Blair,  president  of  the  council, 
who  died  in  his  eighty-fifth  year,  Bovember  5,  1771. 
{Virginia  Gazette.)  In  1703,  Archibald  Blair  and  Sarah, 
his  wife,  executrix  of  Bartholomew  Fowler’s  will,  sued 
Thomas  Chisman.  (York  County  Becords.)  The  second 
wife  of  Blair  was  Sarah  Archer ;  the  third,  Mary  Wilson, 
only  daughter  of  Colonel  William  Wilson,  about  1720. 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR. 


39 


(Elizabeth  City  County  Records  and  tombstones  at  Blunt 
Point  and  Rich  Reck,  Warwick  County.)  Dr.  Blair 
was  her  third  husband;  the  first  was  William  Roscow 
and  second  Colonel  Miles  Cary,  of  Rich  Reck.  Dr.  Blair 
had  issue:  (1^ President  John  Blair;  he  is  frequently 
spoken  of  as  nephew  of  Commissary  James  Blair. 
James  Blair,  of  James  City  County.  The  tombstone  of 
Dr.  Blair,  ‘Virginia  Historical  Collection,’  vol.  xi.,  speaks 
of  his  nephews  (nepotibus).  See  also  letter  of  Governor 
Gooch  in  Perry’s  Historical  Collection.  See  College 
Catalogue.  (3.) .  Elizabeth,  who  married  John  Bolling, 
Jr.  (Bolling  Memoirs.)  Harrison  married  Dr.  George 
Gilmer.  President  Jolin  Blair  married  Mary  Monro, 
daughter  of  Rev.  John  Monro.  {Quarterly,  ii.  page  82.) 
Issuer^ Judge  John  Blair.  (2.)  Dr.  James  Blair  married 
Ritty  Eustice,  of  Rew  York.  He  died  December,  1772. 
( Virginia  Gazette.)  (3.)  Sarah  married  Colonel  Wilson 
Miles  Cary,  of  Ceeleys.  (Cary  Bible.)  ^4.)  Anne  married 
Colonel  John  Banister,  of  Battersea,  Dmwiddie  County. 
( Virginia  Gazette.)  (5.)  Christian  married  Colonel  Armi- 
stead  Burwell,  of  Stoneland,  Mecklenburg  County.  (Bur- 
well’s  tombstone ;  John  Blair’s  will,  York  County,  Bruton 
Register.)  (6.)  Elizabeth  married  Captain  Samuel  Thomp¬ 
son,  of  the  Royal  Ravy.  {Virginia  Gazette,  1768.)  (7.) 

Mary  married  Colonel  George  Braxton.  (See  John  Blair’s 

will.)  Judge  John  Blair  married  Jean - .  (‘  Virginia 

Historical  Collection,’  vol.  xi.)  Judge  Blair  had  three 
daughters, — Relly  died  at  fourteen  ( Virginia  Gazette) ; 
Mary,  second  ■wife  of  Robert  Andrews,  and  Jane,  first 
wife  of  Rev.  James  Henderson,  married  January  8,  1795. 
Rone  of  these  daughters  left  surviving  issue.  James 
Blair,  second  son  of  Dr.  Archibald  Blair,  died  about  1773, 
when  Archibald  Blair,  his  infant  orphan,  made  choice  of 
John  Blair,  Esq.,  as  his  guardian.  (York  County  Rec¬ 
ords.)  Archibald  Blair  died  October  7,  1824,  aged  sev¬ 
enty-one.  He  married  Molly  Whiting,  of  Gloucester,  in 
1787.  He  was  clerk  of  the  council  and  clerk  of  the  Com¬ 
mittee  of  Safety  during  the  whole  Revolution.  Mary,  his 
daughter,  married,  in  1822,  John  Minor  Botts.  The  will 
of  Archibald  Blair,  dated  in  1809  and  recorded  in  Rich¬ 
mond  May  17,  1825,  names  children, — John,  Beverley, 
Archibald,  and  Mary.” 


40 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILAL 


The  watch-key,  made  of  gold,  with  the  seal  and  device 
of  the  0  B  K  Society  of  William  and  Mary  College, 
founded  second  to  the  society  at  Harvard  College,  was  as 
follows ; 


In  an  original  article  published  hy  Professor  Lyon  G. 
Tyler,  M.  A., — “Historical  Papers,” — in  William  and  llary 
College  Quarterly,  this  learned  antiquarian  refers  to  a  por¬ 
trait  of  James  Blair,  D.D,,  which  now  hangs  in  the  library 
of  the  college ;  describing  it,  he  adds  : 

“  His  hands  hang  idly  in  his  lap,  but  his  left  elbow  rests 
on  the  folds  of  an  open  book  engraved  with  what  seems 
Greek  letters  written  upside  down, — a  Greek  testament, 
perhaps, — while  in  the  background  of  the  portrait  is  a 
miniature  representation  of  the  college  of  which  he  was 
at  once  founder  and  president  for  fifty  years.  Withal,  the 
face  in  the  portrait  is  one  of  a  man  of  strong  will,  of  un¬ 
bending  courage,  and  sincere  and  elevated  purposes;  and, 
indeed,  if  half  we  read  of  him  is  true,  there  was  a  need 
of  all  the  skill  of  the  artist  to  depict  upon  the  canvas  all 
the  character  represented  in  such  a  life  as  that  of  James 
Blair.  Choosing  from  an  early  day  to  identify  himself 
with  the  cause  of  education  in  the  colony  of  Virginia,  he 
met  with  formidable  difficulty  from  the  men  in  power, 
who  resorted  to  every  means  to  crush  and  destroy  him. 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR. 


41 


But  through  life  he  was  always  found  battling  for  the 
right ;  and  in  the  history  of  those  struggles  it  appears 
that  not  even  the  iron  vigor  of  such  a  soldier  as  Alexan¬ 
der  Spottswood  was  in  any  way  a  match  for  the  energy 
of  this  peaceful  servant  of  God  when  he  was  once  aroused 
to  the  tight.  When,  thanks  to  the  good  offices  of  Dr. 
Stillingtieet,  bishop  of  Worcester,  and  Dr.  Tillotson,  arch¬ 
bishop  of  Canterbury,  the  good  Dr.  Blair  was  able  at 
length  to  go  to  Seymour,  the  attorney-general,  with  an 
order  from  King  William  and  Queen  Mary  that  the  char¬ 
ter  should  be  prepared,  and  argued  to  that  functionary  the 
need  of  a  college  for  the  poor  Virginians,  as  all  know,  he 
was  rudely  repulsed.  Andros,  at  that  time  governor  of 
Virginia,  opposed  the  charter.  (See  Perry’s  ‘  Historical 
Collections — Virginia.’) 

“  Andros  complained  of  the  Scotch  origin  of  Dr.  Blair, 
and  exerted  all  his  influence  upon  those  Virginians  who 
had  subscribed  to  the  college  to  induce  them  to  withhold 
their  subscriptions.  Daniel  Parke,  an  ancestor  of  Daniel 
Parke  Custis,  famous  as  the  first  husband  of  General 
Washington’s  wife,  with  a  view  to  recommend  himself  to 
Andros’s  favor,  undertook  a  crusade  of  insult  against  all 
friends  of  the  college,  and  at  length,  to  vent  his  ilhhumor 
against  Dr.  Blair  personally,  whose  gown  protected  him 
from  challenges,  he  set  up  a  claim  to  the  pew  in  church 
in  which  Mrs.  Blair  sat,  and  one  Sunday,  with  great  fury 
and  violence,  pulled  her  out  of  it  in  the  presence  of  the 
minister  and  congregation,  who  were  greatly  scandalized 
at  this  ruffian  and  profane  action.  Sir  Francis  Nicholson 
succeeded  Andros,  and  in  turn  became  hostile  to  Dr. 
Blair  when  the  latter  recommended  a  policy  of  modera¬ 
tion  in  his  administration,  saying,  ‘  I  know  how  to  govern 
Virginia.  If  I  had  not  hampered  them  in  Maryland  and 
kept  them  under,  I  should  never  have  been  able  to  have 
governed  them.’  Dr.  Blair  replied,  ‘If  I  know  any¬ 
thing  of  Virginia,  they  are  a  good-natured,  tractable  peo¬ 
ple  as  any  is  in  ye  world,  and  you  may  do  anything  with 
them  by  the  way  of  civility,  but  you  will  never  be  able  to 
manage  them  in  that  way  you  speak  of  by  hampering 
and  keeping  them  under.’  Ilis  successor  was  Alexander 
Spottswood,  of  whom  Dr.  Blair  says,  ‘  He  was  so  wedded 
to  his  notions  that  there  was  no  quarter  for  them  that 


42 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


went  not  with  him,’  and  because  Dr.  Blair  would  not  side 
with  him,  he  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  ‘  to  ruin  me,’ 
writes  the  latter  bitterly,  ‘  with  the  college  and  my 
parish,’  After  Spottswood’s  removal  and  fall  comparative 
peace  shed  its  rays  lapoii  the  venerable  commissary.  The 
college,  which  had  been  burned  in  1705,  and  had  had 
many  difficulties  to  contend  with  in  the  labor  of  restora¬ 
tion,  was  now  well  founded  in  point  of  habitation  and 
educational  organization.  It  was  under  Dr.  Blair’s  able 
and  virtuous  administration,  aided  by  a  faculty  of  the 
ripest  scholars  from  Edinburgh,  Oxford,  and  Cambridge, 
that  the  fathers  of  the  Virginians  of  the  Revolution 
learned  those  lessons  of  sterling  worth  and  integrity 
which,  engrafted  in  the  sons,  lent  such  honor  and  dis¬ 
tinction  to  Virginia.*  The  end  of  a  useful  life  of  eighty- 


*  In  the  ofScial  list  of  graduates,  among  the  distinguished  in  subse¬ 
quent  life  were ; 

Four  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  ;  Judge  John  Blair, 
Jr.,  was  a  signer  of  the  Federal  Constitution.  Three  were  Presidents  of 
the  United  States,  seven  were  cabinet  officers,  one  attorney-general  of 
the  United  States,  one  chief  justice  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States, 
and  one  associate  justice  ditto,  Hon.  John  Blair;  nineteen  members  of 
Congress,  fifteen  United  States  senators,  thirty-seven  judges,  one  lieu¬ 
tenant-general,  two  commodores,  seventeen  governors  of  Virginia. 

Valuable  references  presented  by  President  Lyon  G.  Tyler,  of  Wil¬ 
liam  and  Mary,  in  his  historical  address  at  Jamestown,  Virginia,  on 
Virginia  Day,  May  13,  1895,  before  the  Association  for  the  Preservation 
of  Virginia  Antiquities  : 

1.  Meade’s  “  Old  Churches.” 

2.  “A  Brief  Declaration  of  the  Plantation.” 

3.  William  Strachey ’s  “  History  of  Travaille  in  Virginia  Britannia.” 

4.  Ditto,  2. 

6.  Stith,  citing  original  documents. 

6.  Ditto. 

7.  Neille’s  “  Virginia  Restituta.” 

8.  Hotten’s  “  Immigrants.” 

9.  “  Calendar  of  Colonial  State  Papers.” 

10.  Conway  Robinson’s  “Notes  from  Records  in  the  old  General 
Court  Office.” 

11.  Hening’s  “Statutes,”  volume  ii. 

12.  “  Report  of  the  Royal  Commissioners.” 

13.  Beverly’s  “  History  of  Virginia.” 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR. 


43 


nine  years  occurred  on  April  18,  1743,  just  a  half  century 
after  the  college  charter  was  obtained.  Governor  William 
Gooch  thus  communicated  Dr.  Blair’s  decease  to  the 
bishop  of  London  :  ‘  The  commissary,  Blair,  died  the  18th 
of  the  last  month.  The  deceased  had  a  rupture  about  forty 
years,  and  that,  turning  to  a  mortification,  killed  him, 
but  such  was  his  constitution  that  he  struggled  with  the 
conqueror  ten  days  after  the  doctor  had  declared  that  he 
could  not  live  ten  hours.  He  has  left  his  books  and 
five  hundred  pounds  to  the  college,  and  to  his  nephew 
and  his  children  near  ten  thousand  pounds,  besides  other 
small  legacies.”  (Refer  to  William  and  Mary  Quarterly, 
October,  1892,  and  Perry’s  “  Historical  Collections — Vir¬ 
ginia.”  Also,  Sprague’s  “  Annals  of  the  American 
Pulpit.”) 

Professor  Tyler  declares  that 

“  All  of  the  successors  of  Dr.  Blair  as  presidents  of 
William  and  Mary  College  appear  to  have  been  wise  and 
virtuous  men,  who  left  their  impress  upon  the  life  of  the 
colony  during  this  period.  At  the  time  of  hostilities  with 
the  mother  country  there  were  one  thousand  graduates 
of  the  college  who  were  trained  in  the  humanities  and 
literature  of  Rome,  so  calculated  to  foster  patriotic  in¬ 
spiration.  Unlike  the  Northern  colleges,  which  continued 
to  represent  the  religious  convictions  of  the  people,  Wil¬ 
liam  and  Mary,  by  adhering  to  the  cause  of  the  Church 
of  England,  which  was  daily  weakening  in  the  colonjq 
with  difficulty  retained  its  patronage.  The  majority  of 
the  people  of  the  colony  became  dissenters,  and  though  a 


14.  John  Blair’s  Diary,  MS. 

16.  Perry’s  “  Historical  Collections.” 

16.  R.  S.  Thomas’s  “  Narrative,”  Virginia  Historical  Society. 

17.  Thacher’s  “  Military  Journal.” 

18.  Sprague’s  “  Annals  of  the  American  Church.” 

19.  Celebration  in  1807 :  Briscoe  Baldwin,  John  Madison,  C.  K 
Blanchard,  and  Leroy  Anderson,  students. 

20.  “  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution,”  by  B.  J.  Lossing. 

21.  Ludwell  MSS. 

22.  Southern  Literary  Messenger. 


44 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


majority  of  the  youth  of  wealth  fetill  attended  the  ancient 
seat  of  learning  at  Williamsburg,  a  large  minority  who 
had  embraced  the  new  views  of  religion  went  to  the 
IS'orth  or  to  England.” 

The  author  in  a  note  adds : 

“  The  Virginians  drew  their  inspiration  fi’om  Rome 
and  Greece,  which  certainly  afforded  the  noblest  ex¬ 
emplars  known  in  those  days.  The  New  Englanders 
neglected  tlie  classics  and  appealed  to  the  Old  Testament 
and  its  stern  code  of  ‘  an  eye  for  an  eye.’  In  Virginia  the 
book  of  all  books  for  the  earth  was  ‘  Plutarch.’  The 
York  County  Records  and  Virginia  Gazette  may  be  re¬ 
ferred  to  by  the  reader,  and  also  ‘  William  and  Mary  His¬ 
torical  Catalogue,’  for  details  showing  the  loyalty  to  the 
crown  of  Rev.  John  Camm,  and  later  of  President  James 
Madison,  a  preacher,  and  who  afterwards  was  made 
bishop  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Virginia,  and  proposed 
in  1792  a  union  ‘  with  all  sincere  Christians,’  and  gave  his 
vote  against  the  use  of  the  Thirty-nine  Articles  and  the 
confessional.” 

Among  “  Virginia  Threads  for  the  Future  Historian,” 
furnished  by  Professor  E.  D.  Neill,  Macalester  College,  St. 
Paul,  Minn.,  is  the  following  interesting  one : 

“  On  October  20, 1714,  the  Privy  Council  requested  the 
Lords  of  the  Treasury  to  consider  the  expediency  of  estab¬ 
lishing  a  bishopric  at  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  the  diocese 
to  extend  from  the  west  shore  of  the  Delaware  River  to 
the  utmost  bounds  of  the  British  possessions.” 

Also  another  “  Thread,”  that 

“  In  August,  1716,  a  ship  was  in  the  ‘  Cove  of  Cork,’ 
bound  for  Virginia,  vdth  one  hundred  and  eighteen  rebels 
taken  at  the  Preston  battle.” 

Among  the  residents  of  York  County,  Va.,  was  Dr. 
Archibald  Blair,  brother  of  Commissary  Blair,  and  the 
ancestor  of  the  Blair  family  of  Virginia. 


TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR. 


45 


It  may  be  added,  for  the  information  of  the  reader,  that 
the  able  editor  of  the  William  and  Mary  College  Quarterly, 
October,  1892,  gives  an  alpliabetical  list  of  the  names  of 
families  in  Virginia  who  were  entitled  to  “  arms”  prior  to 
1776,  among  which  is  the  Blair  family,  and  under  the  head 
of  “  Portraits  of  Colonial  Virginians,”  by  R.  A.  Brock, 
Esq.,  secretary  of  the  Virginia  Historical  Society,  the 
writer  says : 

“Just  prior  to  the  first  Revolution,  an  artist,  Charles 
Willson  Peale,  a  pupil  of  Jean  Ileselius,  a  Swede,  painted 
a  number  of  portraits  in  the  colony,  the  most  valuable 
assemblage  of  such  being  now  preserved  at  ‘  Lower  Bran¬ 
don,’  James  River,  and  formed  by  Colonel  William  Byrd.” 

For  family  history  work  in  England,  involving  an  ex¬ 
amination  of  ancient  records,  the  address  is  suggested  of 
F.  A.  Winder,  2  Allen’s  Road,  Sonth  Sea,  Portsmouth, 
England;  and  see  manuscript  history  of  the  Blair  family 
in  the  library  of  the  Virginia  Historical  Society,  and 
“  County  Records  of  the  State  of  Virginia  prior  to  1700,” 
and  Brown’s  “  Genesis  of  the  United  States,”  and  Burke’s 
“English  Gentry”  and  “Peerage.” 

In  connection  with  the  subject  of  coats-of-arms  in  Vir¬ 
ginia,  Professor  Tyler  says : 

“  Such  were  in  the  Middle  Ages  the  distinctive  signs  of 
the  gentleman  in  English  society.  The  rigid  etiquette 
observed  in  the  county  records  of  Virginia  for  the  seven¬ 
teenth  century  show  these  distinctions  prevailed  here  as 
well.  Hone  at  this  early  period  assumed  the  name  of 
‘  gentleman’  without  a  claim  to  arms,  and  the  bearer  of 
arms  was  a  gentleman  according  to  the  original  definition 
of  Sir  Edward  Coke.  In  the  next  century  a  latitude  was 
prevalent  in  the  use  of  both  the  dignity  of  ‘  gentleman’ 
and  the  sign  which  distinguished  him.  It  is  agreed  by 
English  and  American  writers  that  in  America  the  use  of 
arms  by  a  family  previous  to  the  Revolution  may  be  taken 
as  evidence  that  the  fitmily  had  a  right  to  the  use  thereof. 


46 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


And  on  the  authority  of  E.  A.  Brock,  Esq.,  secretaiy  of 
the  Historical  Society  of  Virginia,  in  the  use  of  coat- 
arraor  there  is  more  evidence  of  gentle  lineage  in  Virginia 
than  in  any  other  of  the  American  colonies.  The  families 
whose  history  and  correspondence  is  presented  in  this 
volume  each  had  coat-armor.” 

And  also  adds : 

“  I  am  sure  the  Peachy  family  have  no  portrait  of  John 
Blair,  Sr.  This  is  rather  strange,  but  it  seems  no  portrait 
of  him  is  preserved.  John  Blair,  Sr.,  had  a  relative, 
James  Blair,  of  James  City,  who  was  father  of  Archibald 
Blair,  of  the  council,  whose  will  was  proved  in  Kichmond, 
May  17,  1825,  and  dated  in  1809.  He  left  three  sons, 
John,  Beverly,  and  Archibald ;  and  a  daughter,  Mary.  I 
understand  that  Judge  Lunsford  L.  Lewis  is  connected 
with  the  Hr.  Archibald  Blair,  brother  of  Eev.  James  Blair, 
who  was  at  Edinburgh  in  1685.” 

“  The  diary  in  the  possession  of  the  Virginia  Historical 
Society,”  according  to  the  statement  of  Mr.  Philip  A. 
Bruce,  corresponding  secretary,  “  is  that  of  President 
Blair,  nephew  of  the  commissary.  It  is  dated  about  1751 ; 
is  written  in  a  close  hand,  rather  small,  due,  perhaps,  to 
the  cramped  space,  the  fly-leaf  of  an  almanac,  there  being 
an  entry  for  each  day  of  the  month.  The  diary  is  a  series 
of  one  line  to  each  day, — jottings  of  no  special  value, 
largely  about  the  weather.” 

Ml’.  Bruce  adds : 

“  I  would  suggest  that  you  write  to  President  Tyler, 
William  and  Mary  College,  who  is  probably  more  familiar 
with  the  history  of  the  Blairs  than  any  man  living.” 

Hon.  William  Wirt  Henry  says  in  this  connection  : 

“  I  examined  the  diary  and  concluded  that  it  was  written 
by  the  father  of  Judge  Blair;  much  of  it  is  but  of  little 
value,  but  some  entries  are  valuable  in  way  of  account  of 
the  family.” 

(Refer  to  Virginia  Magazine  of  History  and  Biography, 
vol.  ii. ;  “  A  Full  History  of  the  First  Legislative  Assem- 


JOHN  BLAIR,  SR. 


47 


bly  ever  held  in  America,”  that  in  1619,  at  Jamestown, 
written  by  Hon.  William  Wirt  Henry,  and  other  publica¬ 
tions  of  the  Virginia  Historical  Society.) 


CHAPTER  H. 

JOHN  BLAIR,  Sr. 

The  author  has  been  unable  to  obtain  any  elaborate 
history  of  the  heir  of  Commissary  Blair,  of  his  birth,  etc. 
He  was  a  prominent  actor  in  the  public  atfairs  of  the 
colony,  and  was  a  member  of  the  council  in  1746  under 
Governor  Gooch,  and  voted  for  the  license  permitting 
Rev.  Samuel  Davies  to  preach  at  Williamsburg. 

About  this  time  the  dissenting  denominations,  particu¬ 
larly  the  Baptists  and  Methodists,  were  not  popular  with 
the  members  of  the  Established  Church. 

At  this  time  Deputy  Governor  John  Blair  wrote  the 
following  letter  to  the  king’s  attorney  in  Spottsylvania : 

“  Sir,  I  lately  reeeived  a  letter  signed  by  a  good  num¬ 
ber  of  worthy  gentlemen,  who  are  not  not  here,  com¬ 
plaining  of  the  Baptists.  The  particulars  of  their  misbe¬ 
havior  are  not  told  any  further  than  their  running  into 
private  houses  and  making  dissensions.  On  their  appli¬ 
cation  to  the  attorney-general,  John  Randolph,  tlaey 
brought  me  his  letter,  advising  me  to  write  to  you  their 
petition  was  a  matter  of  right,  and  that  you  may  not 
molest  these  conscientious  people  so  long  as  they  behave 
themselves  in  a  manner  becoming  pious  Christians  and  in 
obedience  to  the  laws  till  the  court,  when  they  intend  to 
apply  for  license,  and  when  the  gentlemen  who  complain 
may  make  their  objections  and  be  heard.  The  act  of 
toleration  (it  being  found  by  experience  that  persecuting 
dissenters  increases  their  numbers)  has  given  them  a 
right  to  apply  in  a  proper  manner  for  licensed  houses  for 
the  worship  of  God  aecording  to  their  consciences,  and  I 
persuade  myself  the  gentlemen  will  quietly  overlook  their 


48 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


meetings  till  the  court.  I  am  told  they  administer  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord’s  Supper  near  the  manner  we  do 
and  differ  in  nothing  from  our  church  hut  in  that  of 
baptism  and  their  renewing  the  ancient  discipline,  by 
which  they  have  reformed  some  sinners  and  brought 
them  to  be  truly  penitent.  If  this  he  their  behavior  it 
were  to  be  wished  we  had  some  of  it  among  us.  Hay,  if 
a  man  of  theirs  is  idle  and  neglects  to  labor  and  provide 
for  his  famil}^  as  he  ought,  he  incurs  their  censures,  which 
have  had  good  effects.” 

This  letter  was  dated  at  Williamsburg,  July  16,  1768, 
and  after  the  death  of  Francis  Fairquier,  lieutenant-gov¬ 
ernor,  which  event  devolved  the  duties  of  government 
upon  John  Blair,  president  of  the  council.  He  had  been 
a  burgess  from  1736  from  Williamsburg.  (See  “  History 
of  Virginia,”  by  Campbell.) 

Mr.  Davies,  who  is  famous  for  a  prophetic  expression 
concerning  General  Washington,  with  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wright,  was  the  founder  in  1756  of  Sunday-schools  for 
the  slaves,  and  thus  was  worthy  of  the  patronage  of  the 
president  of  the  council,  which  Mr.  Blair  held. 

In  1765,  he  says,  in  a  letter  written  to  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Mary  Braxton,  at  Hewington,  dated 

“  Wmsburq  Oct  31®‘ — 

“  I  am  sorry  to  hear  your  Smiths  earn  so  little  to  what  they  did  at  first 
&  as  that  is  collected  with  so  much  trouble  &  short  of  the  hire  that  M"' 
Braxton  can  get,  I  heartily  approve  of  his  kind  proposal,  and  as  I  hope 
my  fellow  will  improve  as  much  that  way  &  it  may  be  some  addition  to 
you  in  the  hire,  I  gladly  consent  to  your  hiring  him.  I  heartily  wish 
you  well  &  am 

“  Dear  Molley 

“To''  atfect.  Father 

“  John  Blair.” 

The  handwriting  of  this  letter  is  of  the  finest  descrip¬ 
tion,  and  the  ink  as  perfect  in  color  as  when  first  im¬ 
pressed  upon  the  paper.  Another  is  from  his  wife  to  the 
same  lady ; 


t^9~A  9C  ^Tryi^ 


JOHN  BLAIR,  SR. 


49 


“  Wmsburg  Oct :  14  :  1769 

“ Dk  Sister: 

“  It  was  with  a  great  deal  of  Pleasure  I  received  yesterday  the  agree¬ 
able  account  of  your  getting  quite  well  again.  I  obeyed  your  command 
concerning  the  money  and  got  my  Sister  Burwell  as  she  was  going  down 
Town  to  call  and  pay  it  to  M"'  Greenhow.  He  is  very  sorry  you  gave 
yourself  the  trouble  to  send  it  down  on  Purpose,  as  the  latter  end  of  the 
Court  will  suit  him.  I  send  by  Will  the  Cabbage  seed,  no  cauliflower 
seed  to  be  had :  likewise  some  orange  Peal  which  I  had  come  in  lately 
and  I  believe  it  is  better  than  what  we  can  get  in  the  shops.  Your  little 
Betsey  [Elizabeth  Braxton  when  a  child]  is  far  from  being  troublesome 
to  any  of  the  Family  as  you  imagine,  and  I  can  assure  you  behaves  Pretty 
well  the  whole  time  Nancy  was  at  Hampton.  I  had  only  occasion  to 
scold  at  her  once ;  and  she  own’^  her  fault  and  Promised  never  to  do  so 
again  :  you  know  the  Best  will  err  some  times.  I  am  extremely  obliged 
to  you  for  the  trouble  you  have  taken  about  my  Virginia  Cloth.  I  like 
it  very  well,  it  seems  to  be  very  well  wove.  I  shoul’d  be  glad  to  know 
how  much  M"'”  L  :  spun  of  it,  you  say  she  would  be  glad  of  an  old  Bonnet 
and  an  apron  for  each  of  her  Daughters ;  as  to  the  Bonnet  I  have  ne’er 
an  old  one  that  I  can  spare  I  have  got  two  muzlin  aprons  that  I  believe 
would  do  but  as  it  is  association  times  I  am  affraid  to  part  with  them ; 
for  if  I  do  I  shall  have  nothing  to  make  up  for  the  Children  to  go  to 
Dancing  in ;  if  L :  chuses  to  wait  a  little  while,  perhaps  I  may  be 
able  to  send  both,  but  if  not  I  will  pay  her  in  money.  I  have  had  letters 
from  Scotland  the  other  day ;  you  may  expect  your  spinning  wheels  by 
the  first  ship.  I  think  I  have  wrote  you  a  long  letter.  I  have  wrote  it 
in  a  great  hurry.  All  here  join  me  in  wishing  you  and  D''  little  George 
Health  and  Happiness,  and  I  am 

“  D”  Sister 
“  y''  affect 

“and  Loving  Sister 

“Jean  Blair.” 

“  Battersea,  July  24‘>» 

“  I  last  night  received  my  dear  Eliza®  agreeable  letP  &  the  other  I  shall 
give  to  M”  Bolling  to  send  it  to  Fluvanna  I  was  sorry  to  hear  of  the  dis¬ 
agreeable  jaunt  you  experienced  in  your  way  home.  I  know  y’’  good 
sense  will  enable  you  to  bear  with  these  inconveniences  which  are  gen¬ 
eral  of  a  short  duration  &  which  are  unavoidable  to  travellers.  The  in¬ 
quisitiveness  of  the  Hostess  I  think  very  impertinent.  I  think  you  were 
excusable  in  deceiving  her  as  I  by  no  means  think  it  absolutely  necesary 
the  curiosity  of  these  people  shou’d  be  gratified  &  now  my  Friend  give 
me  leave  to  enquire  after  your  good  Mama:  how  does  she  do;  how  did 
she  bear  tbe  fatigue  of  the  Journey;  tel  her  I  miss^  her  not  a  little.  I 


50 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


declare  I  wish  most  woundedly  to  see  you  both,  give  my  Duty  to  her, 
but  dont  let  her  see  this  shocking  scrawl.  It  wou’d  have  been  better 
worth  your  perusal  had  their  not  been  one  of  the  cleverest  Fellows  I 
know  continuealy  calling  me  &  declares  he  will  come  &  bring  me  down 
if  I  do  not  come  imeadiately  :  Conclude  me  y^  affectionate  Friend  and 

“  Cousin 

“Jane  Blair.” 

In  1768,  Governor  Fauquier  dying,  Mr.  Blair  became 
acting  governor  of  the  colony  by  virtue  of  his  office  as 
president  of  the  council.  At  this  time  in  vain  did  Mr. 
Jefferson  try  to  have  the  slaves  manumitted.  The  anni¬ 
versary  both  of  the  birth  and  restoration  of  Charles  II. 
was  established  as  a  holiday.  In  the  record  of  the  county 
court  of  Accomac  the  following  entry  appears : 

“  At  a  Court  held  in  Accomac  County  y®  of  ISTovem- 
ber  by  his  Ma*‘®®  Justices  of  y"  Peace  for  y®  s'*  County  in 
y®  seaventeenth  yeare  of  y®  Reigne  of  o’^  Sovereigne  Lord 
Charles  y®  Second  By  y®  Grace  of  God  of  Great  Britaine, 
France  and  Ireland  King  Defender  of  y®  Faith  &c.” 

The  above  specimen  is  an  example  of  the  quaint  legal 
forms  of  other  days. 

Mr.  Blair  inherited  the  sound  sense,  the  manly  piety, 
and  the  self-denying  patriotism  of  the  Christian  patriarch 
whom  he  succeeded  in  the  council,  of  which  he  was  for  a 
long  series  of  years  the  president,  and  for  the  duties  of 
which  he  was  qualified  by  an  efficient  service  in  the  House 
of  Burgesses,  of  which  he  was  a  member  from  Williams¬ 
burg  as  early  as  1736.*  He  proved  to  be  an  able  defender 
of  the  lives  and  property  of  the  colonists  settled  in  the 
borders  of  Virginia  and  greatly  exposed  to  the  incursions 
and  attacks  of  the  savage  Indians.  On  these  occasions 
he  displayed  a  self-possession,  a  command  of  expedients. 


*  In  the  Episcopal  Convention  of  Williamsburg  appear  the  names  of 
John  Banister,  of  Dinwiddie,  and  John  Blair,  college  of  William  and 
Mary,  as  delegates. 


JOHN  BLAIR,  SR. 


51 


and  a  love  of  country  throughout  the  troubles  with  the 
Indians  which  were  worthy  of  high  praise.  His  personal 
merits  would  have  earned  him  an  enduring  fame.  His 
countenance  beamed  with  benignity,  and  his  manners 
were  those  of  a  man  who  had  moved  from  boyhood  in  the 
refined  society  of  the  metropolis.  The  English  classics 
he  had  studied  with  the  closest  attention.  His  daughter, 
Agan  Blair,*  thus  writes  to  her  sister,  Mrs.  Braxton,  at 
Hewington,  the  residence  of  her  husband.  Colonel  George 
Braxton  : 

“  It  is  an  age  since  writing  my  D''  Sis"^  nothing  but  the  want  of  an 
opportunity  should  have  occasioned  this  long  silence ;  I  have  been  in 
Hampton  ever  since  the  first  day  of  the  Court  and  to  have  sent  a  Letter 
to  our  House  in  order  to  he  forwarded  I  knew  would  be  vain  for  they 
generally  toss  about  til  lost. 

“  Hampton  is  now  more  gay  than  the  Metropolis.  The  Ripponf  the 
Lancester  &  the  Magdalene  are  all  in  Harbour  here ;  balls  both  by 
land  and  by  water  in  abundance ;  the  gentlemen  of  the  Rippon  are  I 
think  the  most  agreeable,  affable  set  I  have  ever  met  with,  and  really  it 
is  charming  to  go  on  Board;  the  Drum  &  Fife,  pleasing  countenances, 
such  polite  yet  easy  Behavior  all  bespeak  a  hearty  welcome.  This  family 
receives  a  great  many  Civilities  from  all  the  Gentlemen,  presents  on  pres¬ 
ents  ;  if  there  happens  a  day  without  seeing  them  there  is  so  many  comp‘d 
to  enquire  after  our  Healths  that  indeed  to  be  people  of  consequence 


*  “  Agan”  is  the  Scotch  name  for  Anna.  This  writer  became  the  wife 
of  Colonel  John  Banister,  of  Petersburg,  and  the  reader  will  be  fully  able 
to  appreciate  the  letters,  which  have  been  luckily  preserved  and  will 
prove  a  most  accurate  record  of  the  social  life  of  the  elite  of  the  “Old 
City,”  another  name  for  'Williamsburg,  and  of  Norfolk,  where,  during 
the  winter  season,  the  best  Southern  society  were  wont  to  congregate, 
f  Virginia  Gazette,  published  at  'Williamsburg,  1768,  says: 

“Last  Tuesday  evening  arrived  in  Hampton  Roads  in  eight  weeks 
from  Portsmouth  (England)  the  Rippon  man  of  war  of  60  Guns  Sam' 
Thompson  Esqr  Commandg  having  on  board  his  Excellency  the  Eight 
Hon  :  Norbon  Baron  De  Botetourt  (Governor  of  the  Colony  of  'Virginia).” 

The  author  is  of  the  opinion  that  Commander  Thompson,  above  re¬ 
ferred  to,  married  Miss  Betsey  Blair,  whose  name  occurs  so  often  in  the 
correspondence  of  the  Banisters,  to  be  presented  in  a  future  chapter. 
(Campbell’s  “History  of  Virginia.”) 

4 


62 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILAL 


is  vastly  clever.  How  stands  y®  hearts  Girls  I  hear  you  ask?  Why  1 
will  tell  you,  mine  seems  to  be  roving  amidst  Dear  Variety;  and  not¬ 
withstanding  there  is  such  Variety  do  you  think  Betsey  Blair  and  Sally 
Sweeny  does  not  contend  for  one.  Betsey  gave  her  Toast  at  Supper 
Sharp  (a  Lieut:  on  Board  y®  Eippon)  Miss  Sally  for  awhile  disputed  it 
with  her,  at  length  it  was  agread  to  decide  it  with  Pistoles  when  they 
should  go  to  bed  ;  no  sooner  had  they  got  up  stairs  then  the}'  advanced 
up  close  to  each  other,  then  turning  short  round  Back  to  Back  &  marched 
three  steps  forward  &  Fired  so  great  was  the  explosions  and  so  suifocating 
the  smell  of  Powder  that  I  quited  the  Room  till  by  Betsey®  repeated 
shouts  I  soon  learned  she  had  got  y®  better  of  her  antagonist.  Both 
survive. 

“My  Sis"^  Cary  is  writing.  Therefore  submit  to  her  abler  pen  to  do 
justice  to  the  present  amusements  ;  and  that  it  may  be  inducement  enough 
to  bring  you  to  us  is  wish'*  by  all 

“  y''  truly  affect :  Sis’^ 

“A.  Blair.” 

“June  14‘>^  1769. 

“  That  old  Sweat  may  see  I  am  not  altogether  regardless  of  my  prom¬ 
ises  have  at  length  ventur'*  to  put  Pen  to  Paper. 

“  You  will  observe  in  the  Madam®  last  epistle  a  little  hurry,  or  so  to¬ 
wards  the  Conclusion.  O  Dicky,  Dicky,  what  wouD  I  have  not  have 
given  to  had  your  smellers  come  Poping  at  the  Door  in  the  same  moment 
that  she  received  M"^  Tunstall®  Declarations  of  Love?  You  won'*  lam 
sure  been  highly  delighted ;  she  was  in  a  little  Pett  but  it  was  a  very  be¬ 
coming  one  let  me  tell  you — a  glowing  Blush  suffused  o’er  her  Pace,  at¬ 
tended  with  a  trembling,  in  so  much  that  in  extending  her  arm  to  reach 
me  the  Creature^  insolence  I  thought  y®  Paper  would  have  fallen  from 
her  Hand.  The  emotions  I  saw  her  in  did  not  fail  of  exciting  a  curiosity 
in  me  natural  to  all  our  Sex  so  that  a  Dog  would  not  have  caught  more 
eagerly  at  a  Bone  he  was  likely  to  loose  then  I  did  at  the  fullsome  stuff 
(as  she  call’d  it)  tho :  must  own  on  perusall  was  charm’d  with  y®  ele¬ 
gance  of  his  stile ;  and  I  dare  say  he  might  with  truth  declare  his  Love 
for  her  to  equal  that  of  Mark  Antoneys  for  Cleopatra.  She  thought 
proper  to  return  his  Letter  back  again  with  just  a  line  or  two  signifying 
y®  disagreeableness  of  y®  subject  &c.  &c. 

“  but  (by  the  bye)  coax’d  her  out  of  a  Copy  first  which  I  am  per- 
mited  to  shew  you  tho’  not  to  send  you ;  and  I  am  displeased  with  the 
prohibition.  Since  it  will  furnish  me  with  an  opportunity  of  observing 
y’’  Physiognomy  on  the  occasion  there  is  severall  others  Dancing  &  Coo- 
peeing  about  here,  may  they  scrape  all  the  skin  off  their  shins  steping 
over  the  benches  at  the  Church  in  endeavouring  who  shou’d  be  first  to 
Hand  her  in  the  Chariot,  but  hold  :  let  them  write,  or  speak  their  senti- 


JOHN  BLAIR,  SR. 


53 


ments  which  will  be  y®  subject  of  my  next  discourse,  on  account  of  y® 
manner  in  which  we  spend  our  time  would  he  only  a  repetition  of  what 
you  have  heard  before  as  I  doubt  not  but  you  have  seen  some  of  those 
who  were  of  our  Company.  On  Monday  next  we  go  a  visiting  in  King 
William  from  whence  I  propose  fixing  y®  time  for  our  Coach  to  meet  me 
Adieu  I  am  going  to  dinner  after  which  we  have  a  dessert  of  fine  Rasp¬ 
berries  and  Cream  I  wish  you  with  y®  little  Woman  &  a  few  other  chosen 
acquaintances  were  here  to  partake  with  us. 

“  Y'^  affect :  Friend 

“  A.  Blair.” 

“  Dr  SisR 

“  In  a  ramble  down  Street  met  M'^  Price  who  I  fancy  is  getting 
Wedding  geer  for  his  Betsey,  he  tells  me  he  goes  out  of  Town  this 
evening — it  is  now  past  one — and  I  am  to  drink  Tea  at  the  Attorneys,  he 
breakfasted  with  us  this  morning — to  morrow  I  breakfast  with  him — at 
his  Quarters  and  on  Thursday  he  has  bespoke  some  Firmaty  at  our  lower 
Plantation ;  it  was  worth  being  sick  to  have  a  Lord  enquiring  after  ones 
Health.  Well  I  can  no  more.  Miss  Betsey  by  particular  desire  of  her 
God-Mamma  is  to  go  with  me  this  Afternoon,  so  as  well  as  myself  I  have 
her  to  spruce  up — She  is  very  lazy,  very  well  &  sends  her  Duty  to  you 
&  Love  to  her  Brother.  So  far  was  a  how  d’ye  ?  and  now  bye  t’ye  but 
hold  I  a  little  as  to  Business,  M”  Taliaferro  will  make  you  a  wooden  p® 
of  Steps.  I  received  a  paste  pin  of  yours  from  M''  Craig.  Our  goods  are 
come  in.  I  will  get  M'  Price  if  he  be  not  too  deeply  loadn’d  to  take  up 
those  Bath  Cloggs  I  promised  you — 

“Adieu — and  beleave  me  Sincere  when  I  assure  you  I  most  ardently 
wish  for  the  pleasure  of  y""  Company  to  Hampton  this  day  Sennight 

affect:  Sis' 

“  Aqan  Blayar.” 

“  I  have  enclosed  yrs  &  my  Letters  that  were  for  Boston  to  England 
by  Capt:  Petersen;  you  had  beter  write  another  for  there  are  several 
ships  to  sail  soon  for  wh  :  reason  must  be  troublesome  to  my  D'  Sis'  in 
beging  her  to  enclose  my  Letters  that  they  may  be  answer**  by  these  said 
Ships.  Sis'  Blair  says  she  ought  to  write  but  Heaven  knows  whether 
she  will  or  not. 

“  Sept'  1769.” 


Ills  daughter,  Agaii  Blair,  thus  writes  to  her  sister, 
Mrs.  Braxton  : 

“Yesterday  my  Dear  Sis'  M'  Starke  inform**  me  he  shou**  have  an 
opportunity  of  sending  you  a  Letter  which  believe  me  is  the  only  one  I 
have  heard  of  since  my  arrival  in  W“®burg.  It  carries  with  it  an  account 
of  Betcy®  and  y®  rest  of  y®  Familys  good  Health.  How  much  more  did 


64 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


I  regret  y  not  going  to  Eltham,  when  I  found  there  my  Sisf  Blair  & 
Cousin  Burwell  and  what  still  added  to  my  Happiness  was  the  Receipt  of 
my  D’’  Betsey'  &  Cap:  Thompson'  Letters.  They  expected  to  sail  for 
England  about  y'  middle  of  July  tho  :  by  y®  Papers  they  sailed  in  June 
indeed  one  M'  Dedington  has  been  in  Town  who  said  they  left  Boston 
about  a  week  before  himself.  It  is  unnecessary  to  send  yr  Letters  till 
some  ship  sails  for  England.  I  am  told  there  will  be  several  soon,  when 
I  propose  enclosing  them.  Billy  Sharp  and  Lyall  were  on  a  Tour  to  Rose 
Island.  Notwithstanding  my  express  desire  to  Betsey  that  she  should 
answer  every  one  of  y'  questions  I  ask'i  not  a  syllable  does  she  say  in 

regard  to  any . it  is  to  Capt :  Thompson  I  am  obliged  by  y® 

little  information  above  of  our  acquaintance. 

“Well!  I  just  nick’t  it.  Governor  Tryon*  his  Lady  and  M' 


*  This  individual  was  the  Governor  Tryon,  of  North  Carolina,  1772, 
when  the  colonies  rebelled  against  the  imposition  of  taxes  on  tea,  glass, 
paper,  etc.,  by  the  British  Government.  In  North  Carolina  discontent  was 
aggravated  by  the  royal  governor  and  his  officials,  who  shamelessly  plun¬ 
dered  the  people.  The  “  Regulators”  (colonial  volunteers),  who  attempted 
to  put  down  these  extortions,  were  defeated  by  Governor  Tryon  with  a 
British  force  and  many  were  slain,  while  their  estates  went  to  enrich  the 
governor.  Disgusted  with  his  tyranny,  many  of  the  planters  left  the 
settled  limits  of  the  colony,  bought  lands  of  the  Cherokees  to  the  westward, 
and  laid  the  foundations  of  what  is  now  the  State  of  Tennessee.  James 
Robertson,  a  poor  and  unlettered  forester,  was  their  leader. — History  of 
THE  United  States,  by  M.  E.  Thalheimer.  (Refer  to  Burke’s  “His¬ 
tory  of  the  Peerage  and  Gentry  of  England.”) 

Sir  George  Tryon,  who  made  so  costly  a  blunder  on  the  Levantine 
coast,  in  command  of  Her  Majesty’s  ship  Victor,  which  was  lost,  August, 
1893,  with  four  hundred  and  eighty  officers  and  men,  was  the  grandson  of 
Colonel  William  Tryon,  governor  of  North  Carolina  before  the  Revolu¬ 
tion.  Governor  Tryon,  by  his  imperious  course,  led  to  the  first  bloodshed 
which  ended  in  the  liberation  of  America.  The  extortion  of  himself  and 
his  subordinates  led  to  the  formation  of  the  “Regulators,”  and  Tryon 
was  present  at  the  battle  of  Alamance.  He  gave  the  order  that  led  to  the 
fight.  Subsequently  he  was  transferred  to  the  chief  magistracy  of  New 
York.  He  was  a  brigadier  general  of  British  forces  during  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  and  left  America  after  peace  was  made. 

In  1775,  Governor  Tryon  wrote  to  the  British  minister  denouncing  the 
Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  Alexanders,  Balches,  and 
Polk,  Scotch-Irish  settlers  of  North  Carolina,  as  a  most  traitorous  party: 
“They  declare  the  entire  dissolution  of  the  laws  and  constitution,  and 
setting  up  a  system  of  rule  and  regulation  subversive  of  his  majesty’s 
government.”  Subsequently  Tryon,  as  governor  of  New  York,  olfered 


JOHN  BLAIR,  SR. 


55 


EJ  wards  (Governor  Tryon®  Secretary)  was  to  drink  tea  at  our  House  the 
day  we  came  to  Town  (not  forgetting  his  Lordship  [Lord  Botetourt]) 
and  went  to  York  on  their  way  Home  of  y®  Monday  following ;  so  that  I 
had  an  opportunity  of  hearing  the  Conversation  of  this  fine  accomplished 
Lady.  You  may  remember  we  heard  she  took  no  notice  of  the  Ladies; 
I  therefore  resolved  in  myself  to  have  nothing  to  say  to  her  and  accord¬ 
ingly  took  my  seat  as  far  distant  from  her  as  the  Room  would  permit ; 
but  with  all  my  resolution  I  could  hold  no  longer ;  tlie  Lady  had  unfor¬ 
tunately  scall’d  three  of  her  Fingers,  (I  say  unfortunately  for  else  she 
would  have  play’d  the  Spinnet)  so  that  the  speediest  method  of  cure 
became  now  the  Topick.  The  Company  agread  it  would  heal  sooner  for 
having  y®  skin  cut  off  the  Blisters;  Mr  Edwards  and  self  as  yet  had  said 
nothing  about  it — to  be  sure  our  opinions  was  necessary — so  the  Lady 
call’d  first  on  y®  former  who  judged  it  best  to  let  y®  skin  remain;  next 
comes  y®  latter  and  having  view’d  the  wound  with  all  the  sagacity  of  a 
Surgeon  agread  with  Mr  Edwards  (as  he  was  singular)  in  everything  he 
said  exactly.  She  reply’d  with  a  Smile  that  notwithstanding  there  was 
two  to  one  of  the  opposite  opinion  yet  her  inclination  consiJed  much 
with  us ;  for  to  own  a  truth  she  was  so  far  a  Coward  she  did  not  like  her 
skin  to  be  cut.  Thus  much  for  her  Fingers,  and  as  to  y®  Lady  herself,  I 
think  what  was  heard  to  her  disadvantage  proves  from  a  little  acquaint¬ 
ance  to  advantage.  They  say  she  rules  the  Roast,  it  is  a  pity.  1  like  her 
Husband  vastly.  They  have  a  little  Girl  with  them  that  is  equeally  to 
be  pitied,  this  poor  thing  is  stuck  up  in  a  Chair  all  day  long  with  a  Coller 
on,  nor  dare  she  even  to  taste  Tea  fruit  Cake  or  any  little  Trifile  offer’d 
her  by  y®  Company,  but  to  return  to  y®  Lady®  Fingers — the  old  Gentleman 
squeazed  her  Hand  a  little  too  hard  (in  handing  her  to  y®  Coach)  for  one 
of  her  delicacy,  she  however  had  so  far  the  command  of  herself  as  not  to 
fall  in  a  Fit  til  she  got  to  my  Lords ;  Pasteur  immeadiately  was  call’d  in 
who  did  in  one  minuet  what  had  just  before  caused  us  a  debate  of  half  an 
Hour  long — he  perform’d  y®so  much  dreaded  operation  of  cuting  the  skin 
after  w®*"  he  was  presented  with  a  Guinea  he  laughed  &  said  he  had  no 
objection  to  bo  squeazed  into  another. 

“  I  have  a  Letter  from  Sis®  Cary  telling  me  I  ought  to  have  been  at 
Hampton  instead  of  King  and  Queen  for  that  there  had  been  the  Viper 
sloop  of  war  commanded  by  one  Capt :  Lindsey  a  Brother  of  M®®  Hoods, 
a  most  agreeable  Gentleman  the  first  Lieut :  M®  Friedrick  a  relation  of 
the  Duchess  of  Beaufort’  extremely  cleaver  and  several  others  equally  as 
much  so.  She  thinks  it  advisable  to  go  down  in  readiness  for  y®  next  that 
comes  (who  knows  the  luck  of  a  Louisa  Calf)  perhaps  if  I  go  down  I 


one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  for  the  arrest  of  Ethan  Allen,  a  Green 
Mountain  Boy,  at  the  time  when  New  York  tried  to  enforce  its  authority 
to  hold  Vermont. 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


5fj 

may  be  as  lucky  as  Bet  otlierways  I  most  slirewdlj’  suspect  I  verj-  reluc¬ 
tantly  shall  join  tliat  set  of  animals  destined  to  lead  Apes.* 

“  Augt  1769. 

“  here  ahouts,  mj-  D'’  Sis''  an  interruption  prevented  mj-  sending  this  to 
M'  Starke,  so  that  loosing  that  opportunity  have  never  heard  of  one 
since  ;  or  I  would  have  finished  it  before  now  I  observe  what  is  written  is 
without  a  date,  and  it  is  so  long  ago  that  I  cannot  recollect;  however  as 
it  is  too  much  writing  for  me  to  loose  as  well  as  it  will  shew  my  inclina¬ 
tion  was  good  shall  here  enclose  it.  During  this  long  interval  have  re¬ 
ceived  a  very  agreeable  Letter  from  you  which  I  am  now  to  thank  you 
for.  Betsey  f  is  at  work  for  3'ou.  I  suppose  she  will  tell  you  to-morrow 
is  Dancing  day  for  it  is  her  thoughts  bj'  Day  and  her  dreams  by  night. 
M'  Fearson  was  surprised  to  find  she  knew  so  much  of  the  minuet  step 
and  could  not  help  asking  if  Miss  had  never  been  taught.  So  you  find 
She  is  likely  to  make  some  progress  that  way  M'  Wray  by  reason  of 
Business  has  but  lately  taken  her  in  hand  tho :  he  assures  me  a  little 
practice  is  all  she  wants :  her  Reading  I  hear  her  twice  a  day  and  when  I 
go  out  she  is  consigned  over  to  m}^  Sis'  Blair  :  we  have  had  some  few 
quarrels  and  one  Battle  ;  Betsey  and  her  Cousin  Jenny  had  been  fighting 
for  several  day  successively,  and  was  threaten’d  to  be  whipt  for  it  as  often 
but  as  they  did  not  regard  us  her  Mamma  &  self  thought  it  necessary  to 
let  them  see  we  were  in  earnest — if  they  have  fought  since  have  never 
heard  of  it.  She  has  finish’d  her  work’d  Tucker  but  the  weather  is  so 
warm  that  with  all  y®  pains  I  can  take  with  clean  hands  and  so  forth  she 
cannot  help  dirtying  it  a  little.  I  do  not  observe  her  to  be  fond  of  ne¬ 
groes  company  now  nor  have  I  heard  lately  of  any  bad  words,  chief  of 
our  Quarrels  is  for  eating  of  those  green  apples  in  our  garden  &  not 
keeping  the  head  smooth.  I  have  had  Hair  put  on  Miss  Dolly  but  find  it 
not  in  my  power  of  complying  with  my  promise  in  giving  her  silk  for  a 
sacque  &  coat.  Some  of  our  pretty  Gang  broke  open  a  Trunk  in  my 
absence  and  has  stolen  several  things  of  which  the  silk  makes  a  part— so 
imagine  Bettsey  will  petition  you  for  some.  I  am  much  obliged  for  the 
care  you  have  taken  to  get  all  my  duds  together.  I  cannot  find  that  you 
have  neglected  puting  up  anything  for  Betsey.  It  is  time  to  spruce  my¬ 
self  for  dinner  after  w"*'  expect  Company  to  Tea.  Good  morrow  to  you 
Sis' ;  we  spent  a  cheerfull  afternoon  yesterday.  M'®  Dawsons  Family 
stay’d  y®  Evening  with  us  and  y=  Coach  was  at  y®  door  to  carry  them 


*  This  allusion  to  “  Bett’s”  marriage  confirms  the  fact  that  the  writer 
of  these  letters  was  the  lady  who  subsequently  became  the  wife  of 
Colonel  John  Banister. 

■j-  The  Betsey  referred  to  was  Elizabeth  Blair,  who  married  Captain 
Thompson,  R.N. 


JOHN  BLAIR,  SR. 


57 


Home  by  ten  o’clock  but  everyone  appearing  in  great  spirits  it  was  pro¬ 
posed  to  set  at  y®  steps  and  sing  a  few  songs  w”**  was  no  sooner  said  than 
done ;  while  thus  we  were  employ’d  a  candle  and  Lanthorn  was  observed 
to  be  coming  up  street  (except  Polly  Clayton  censuring  their  ill  taste  for 
having  a  candle  such  a  line  night)  no  one  took  any  notice  of  it  til  we  saw 
who  ever  it  was  stop’t  to  listen  to  our  enchanting  notes  :  Each  warbler  was 
imeadiately  silenced  :  whereupon  the  invader  to  our  Melody  call’d  out  in 
a  most  rapiturous  voice  Charming  I  charming  I  proceed  for  God®  sake  or  I 
go  Home  directly  No  sooner  were  these  words  uttered  then  all  as  wdth 
one  consent  sprung  from  their  seats  and  y”  air  echoe’d  with  pray  walk  in 
my  Lord  ;  no !  indeed  he  would  not,  he  would  set  on  the  Steps  too,  so 
after  a  few  ha  ha  has  and  being  told  what  all  knew  that  it  was  a  delight¬ 
ful  evening  at  his  desire  we  strew’d  the  way  over  with  flowers  &c,  &c,  til 
a  full  half  hour  was  elaps’d  when  all  retired  to  their  respective  Homes. 

“  I  wish  I  could  obey  my  D”  Sis”  most  agreeable  summons,  but  pru¬ 
dence  whispers  no.  If  there  is  no  Cotton  to  be  had  I  must  let  my  inten¬ 
tions  drop  til  next  year  when  my  Sis"'  Blair  promises  me  some  from  her 
crop.  Oh  what  an  awfull  sound,  some  good  Soul  has  made  its  Exit !  I 
am  just  informed  it  is  an  Infant  not  of  my  acquaintance.  Whj'so  silent? 
The  spinnet  will  grow  so  intollirably  Lazy  with  so  much  indulgence  that 
when  M''  Starke  calls  on  j'ou  to  set  them  in  motion  ;  am  atfraid  they  will 
not  move  with  that  active  Spring  which  you  from  custom  had  made  per¬ 
fectly  easy  to  them  during  my  stay  at  Newington,  dear  me  I  forgot  to  get 
those  songs  I  promised  :  well  I  will  to  Pelham®  on  purpose  for  them  this 
evening. 

“  They  are  Building  a  Steeple  to  our  Church.  The  Doors  for  that 
reason  is  open  every  Day  ;  and  we  are  entertain’d  with  the  performance 
of  Felton®  Handel®  Vi  Valleys  Hesses  &c,  &c,  &c.  I  could  say  a  great 
deal  about  this  that  and  tother  but  knowing  the  Company  you  now  have 
can  tell  all  that  I  know  with  greater  ease  than  I  can  write  it  will  refer 
you  to  them  ;  do  ask  them  a  thousand  questions,  there  is  an  abundance  of 
news  stirring,  I  do  sincerely  condole  with  poor  M”  B  :  who  would  have 
thought  when  last  we  saw  her  Daughter  so  blooming  her  Fate  was  so 
near  a  Crisiss. 

“  Major  Watson®  Family  have  arrived,  I  went  to  wait  on  them  ;  the 
eldest  is  about  eighteen  a  young  Lady  of  good  sense  with  an  easy  afl’a- 
ble  behavior  and  I  think  handsome.  The  other  about  fourteen  has  a 
charming  complexion  with  good  nature  stampt  in  her  countenance  She 
wears  her  hair  down  her  Forehead  almost  to  her  Eye-brows  w*’’  gives  a 
just  idea  at  first  sight  of  what  on  a  little  acquaintance  you  find  in  reality 
— She  is  a  Wild-Philly. 

“  I  have  a  pain  in  my  Rist. 

“  I  am  yf  truly  afi’ect.  Sis^ 

“  A.  Blair.” 


58 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


“I  thank  you  niy  D''  Sister  for  your  last  favor;  I  am  very  sick,  in¬ 
deed  this  sickness  comes  very  unseasonably,  for  I  was  under  an  engage¬ 
ment  to  Gloucester  &  if  I  could  keep  anything  on  my  stomach  my 
inclination  my  spirits  would  get  y®  better  of  my  Prudence.  I  went  to 
York  the  day  before  yesterday  tho ;  was  not  well  then. 

“  Y''  very  affect :  Sis'" 

“A.  B. 

“  Aug‘  25:  1769.” 

“Octo’^  y®  20‘'^  1781. 

“  I  am  greatly  concern'^  to  hear  D''  Cousin  Whiting  has  had  so  severe 
a  Fall  from  a  Horse  by  wh”*^  y’^  life  in  such  eminent  danger.  I  hope  my 
dear  Betsey  it  will  teach  you  to  be  more  cautious,  you  must  consider  y"^ 
Mam™^  is  old  &  you  have  three  children  ;  what  a  dreadful  situation  must 
theirs  be  if  deprived  of  tbeir  Mother  who  w'^  be  the  guardian  of  their 
infant  yrs  ;  I  received  a  L'^  from  Mamma  in  wh”**  she  tells  me  she  has 
not  seen  you  since  Nov'^  I  am  much  surprized  you  so  seldom  visit  her 
especially  when  her  health  was  so  bad  y®  last  winter:  such  slights  my 
dear  Betsey  are  very  grating  to  a  Parent.  She  expresses  her  wishes  that 
she  may  come  &  live  in  W“®burg,  that  she  may  be  happy  in  y®  society 
of  her  relations  as  well  as  a  number  of  other  genteel  people  with  whom 
she  will  pass  her  time,  more  agreeably  than  she  can  where  she  is  at  pres¬ 
ent,  I  expect  soon  to  hear  you  have  chang®  y"'  name  as  I  am  informed 
you  are  much  admired.  Be  cautious  in  making  y''  choice,  be  well  ac¬ 
quainted  with  the  disposition  of  y®  man  you  marry  &  do  not  involve 
yourself  in  difficulties  by  giving  yourself  to  one  in  needy  circumstances, 
we  have  had  a  very  sick  family  ever  since  Aug‘  indeed  it  appears  as  if 
we  never  sh^  be  well  again.  M"^  Peachy  with  my  Polly  and  their  sweet 
infants  came  down  a  week  ago.  Mi^  Cary  &  myself  in  love  &  best  wishes 
for  you  &  yours 

“  y*'  affect  Aunt  S.  Cauy 

“  [nee  Sarah  Blair].” 

“  Mrs  Whiting 

“  Berkeley. 

“Dear  Madam: 

“  I  regret  that  Miss  Mary®  musical  pursuits  are  suspended,  I  feel  my¬ 
self  sensibly  obliged  for  the  polite  invitations  to  your  happy  habitation. 
Col:  Alexander  and  your  son  Geo:  have  visited  us:  G:  looks  as  he 
should.  The  carriage  being  under  way  I  have  only  time  to  add, 

“Adieu,  R.  Prescott.” 

“  In  the  Mountain 
“  Thursday  Eve® 

“SepP  ’94. 

“  O  my  dear  Betsey  in  what  terms  shall  I  paint  the  scene  I  have  this 
day  witnessed.  Your  dear  aunt  Cary  is  no  more,  about  two  weeks  ago 
she  was  seized  with  a  violent  Pleurisy — you  know  full  well  her  delicate 


JOHN  BLAIR,  SR. 


59 


frame,  alas !  it  was  too  feeble  to  stand  the  shock !  an  abscess  formed  on 
her  lungs,  soon  terminated  in  a  suffocation,  my  God  what  were  her  suf¬ 
ferings  I  the  dear  departed  had  the  comfort  of  her  daughter  Peachy,  sister 
Banister.  She  retained  her  senses  at  the  last  and  prayed  for  all  her 
friends.  I  leave  it  to  your  prudence  whether  it  ought  to  he  communi¬ 
cated  to  your  dear  mother.  Do  my  friend  write  soon  and  mention  how 
this  loved  Parent  does  : 

“  your  distressed  Friend 

“  Chaklotte  Balfour. 

“Ceeleys,  Feby  28:  1799.” 

“  Richd  Feby  3.  97. 

“  Madam, 

“  I  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  favor  of  the  IG'*'  Jany.  some  days 
ago  and  have  postponed  an  answer  to  it,  hoping  that  with  the  assistance 
of  a  bad  memory  or  from  memoranda  I  might  be  able  to  give  you  the 
information  requested.  But  I  cannot,  all  that  I  recollect  of  Mr  Norton® 
affair  is  that  I  saw  &  approved  of  the  deed  and  upon  expressing  that 
approbation  in  writing  M®  Blair  I  suppose  paid  the  money,  the  deed  I 
am  satisfied  was  forwarded  to  M®  Precot  for  I  recollect  giving  him  di¬ 
rections  respecting  the  mode  of  proving  it  so  as  to  get  it  recorded.  I  will 
continue  my  search  and  if  I  can  be  enable  to  give  further  information  I 
will  do  so. 

“  The  suit  ag‘  you  as  well  as  that  ag'-  M®®  P.  (to  whom  present  me  very 
respectfully  will  engage  my  attention  and  warmest  exertions  as  soon  as  I 
get  a  copy  of  the  Bill,  I  shall  forward  it  to  your  Mother  &  shall  then 
write  her  :  her  fav®  by  post  I  have  rec^ 

“  I  have  the  Honor  to  be  with  much  respect 
“  Madam 

“  Y  :  Mo  :  ob.  ser' 

“  Bushrod  Washington.’ 

“  Mrs  Whiting  “July  18'“  1797. 

“  Madam 

“  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  the  suit  in  behalf  of  the 
Commonwealth  against  you  was  dismissed  at  the  last  General  Court.  I 
had  never  any  doubt  but  this  would  be  the  event  of  the  cause  after  the 
Certificates  which  you  sent  me. 

“I  some  time  ago  rec®  a  letter  from  M®  Harrison  requesting  that  I 
would  write  to  the  Clerk  of  King  &  Queen  Court  for  a  paper  which  he 
wanted  in  drawing  your  Mother®  answer  to  Gill’s  bill,  you  will  oblige 
me  by  informing  j’our  Mother  that  I  wrote  for  the  paper  some  time  ago, 
but,  had  no  answer  before  I  left  home 

“  I  am,  verj’  respectfully 

“  Madam  your  mo :  ob :  ser' 

“  Bushrod  Washington.” 


60 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILAT. 


“To 

“  Mrs  Prescott 
“  of  Enfield 

“  Prince  William. 

“  pr  favour  of  "I 
Judge  Tucker.”/ 

“  Flower  de  hundred. 

“  In  October  I  bid  probably  a  final  farewell  to  Amelia  Co.  Mr 
Peachy  removed  to  his  new  purchase  on  James  River.  We  stayed  one 
month  in  Petersburg  &  arrived  at  this  place  the  2“'*  of  Nov'',  you  would 
be  pleased  with  it  if  you  feel  as  great  an  attachment  as  I  do  for  all  water 
prospects.  There  is  one  great  inconvenience  attending  it,  viz  :  two  ferries 
to  cross  ere  you  can  visit  Either  Williamsburg  or  Ceeleys  ;  for  Five 
daj's  have  been  packed  up  &  been  prevented  setting  out  by  the  Rivers 
being  frozen  over.  I  begin  to  be  impatient  to  see  my  friends  below.  I 
shall  quit  the  worthies  of  Flower  de-hundred.  I  thank  you  dear  Girl  for 
yr  :  friendly  invite.  AVhat  has  become  of  the  fascinating  D''  (Graham)  ? 

afraid  he"  make  the  upper  country  so  delightful  that  you"  never  be 
induced  to  visit  yr :  friends  below,  we  have  met  with  M'  AVormlej'  & 
Miss  Starke  in  Petersburg.  Does  Miss  Mercer  live  in  your  ne’bourhood  ? 
Our  Williamsburg  friends  were  well  a  few  days  ago  ;  except  Jemmey  Blair 
who  tis  feared  is  in  a  decline.  The  Doct'®  have  recommend  a  trip  to  the 
West  Indies  ;  his  Father®  fondness  1'“  apprehensive  will  prevent  his  letting 
him  go.  The  good  couple  at  Ceeleys  were  very  well  when  last  heard  from. 
Heaven  bless  you  my  Dearest  Friend,  Prays  most  devoutly 

“  yr  :  ever  affect' 

“  Charlotte. 

“Jan  34  1791.” 

This  lady,  Miss  Charlotte  Balfour,  of  ITorfolk,  was 
either  daughter  or  niece  of  Dr.  Balfour,  the  first  surgeon- 
general,  United  States  Uavy,  as  formed  out  of  the  Virginia 
or  Janies  River  Flotilla  organized  by  Congress,  1775-76. 

“  Danby  OcP  6. 

“  Mx  DEAR  Friend, 

“Cousin  Little  returned  last  night  from  Bath  perfectly  well.  She 
requests  you  to  call  at  M'®  Love®  &  if  there  are  any  letters  in  the  post 
office,  send  them  &  call  at  Sez  Smith®  for  a  pair  of  shoes  he  had  to  mend 
for  me, 

“  A^our  sincere  Friend 

“  F.  Whiting. 

“  P.  S.  Your  commission  is  (?)  arrived” 

“  Lieutenant 

“Robert  Howe  Little 

“  Alexandria.” 


JOHX  BLAIR,  SR. 


61 


“Williamsburg:  Nov'' 3:  1800. 

“  Dear  Brother, 

“  I  know  Robert  you  will  be  glad  to  bear  that  poor  Banister  is  nearly 
well ;  he  walks  now  with  a  crutch,  poor  fellow  what  a  sum  of  misery  has 
he  had,  when  in  the  worst  am  told  he  often  wished  for  Death  ;  how  dis¬ 
tressing  must  have  been  the  situation  of  his  poor  Mother.  The  Doctor 
thinks  him  out  of  danger,  the  acct  M'®  Mims  gave  of  him  was  truly 
distressing  to  all  his  friends. 

“  Take  care  of  that  colt  of  mine.  I  rejoice  our  friends  in  Winchester 
&  at  Fenton  are  well.  I  dont  think  W'^’burg  agrees  with  my  health  at 
all,  at  present  confined  with  a  bad  cold  &  fevers  at  night.  I  have  not 
been  to  lecture  for  two  days,  but  read  close  in  my  room  night  &  daj’. 
When  well  again  I  shall  set  in  again  to  attend  the  College.  I  am  much 
pleased  with  the  rules  and  mode  of  proceeding.  On  Monday  &  Wednes¬ 
days  we  attend  Mr  Madison®  lecture  on  Moral  Philosophy,  &  on  Friday 
his  Natural  (?)  Lecture — the  rest  of  the  week  Mr  Andrews  lectures  on 
mathematics ;  all  spare  time  I  devote  to  history.  I  am  now  reading 
Rollins.  Robert  1  must  now  stop.  I  am  obliged  to  write  a  Composition 
on  Innate  Ideas:  Give  my  love  to  my  friends  &  in  Winchester  &  partic¬ 
ularly  to  the  Sun  Beam  of  Beauty  :  Goodbye,  God  bless  you  «&  make 
you  prosper  is  the  sincere  wish  of  your  Aftec' 

“Brother:  George  B.  Whiting. 

“  I  will  be - d - d  Polly  if  we  hav"'  oysters  for  dinner  as  big  as 

your  hand.” 

“Philadelphia:  March  14“' 

“My  Dear  Madam: 

“  You  my  good  Lady  express  a  wish  to  have  a  better  description  of  the 
Philadelphia  Medical  Society.  I  can  only  add,  at  Present,  that  the  Mem¬ 
bers  are  of  the  most  respectable  Physicians  in  the  Union.  D'  Rush  is  our 
President  and  all  our  professors  are  members.  My  dissertation  was  uni¬ 
formly  approved  of.  I  have  acquired  popularity  enough  to  have  D'  Con¬ 
rad  of  Winchester  V"  elected  a  member.  I  am  now  patronized  by  D' 
Boyce  an  old  classmate  of  my  master®,  while  in  Europe  ;  he  is  physician 
to  the  Bethany  House,  where  I  attend  three  times  a  week  and  see  the 
prescriptions  for  more  than  200  patients.  I  also  attend  the  Hospital,  & 
am  determined  to  improve  my  opportunities — in  the  line  of  my  pro¬ 
fession.  I  shall  return  by  the  way  of  Washington  City  &  can  get  a  horse 
at  my  Uncles,  perhaps  the  last  of  the  month,  until  that  happy  moment 
Adieu.  1  will  return  good  for  evil  and  write  to  my  amiable  friend  M. 
B.  W.  [Mary  Blair  AVhiting,  his  future  wife.] 

“  God  bless  you  :  R.  H.  Little.” 

“  Enfield  :  SepP  IS'*'  1801. 

“  Da  Robert 

“  Csesar  sets  out  in  the  morning  for  Winchester  to  attend  j’our  high¬ 
ness  &  my  dear  Peggy  to  our  Castle  for  it  has  quite  that  appearance.  On 


62 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


Sunday  we  shall  Expect  you  to  tea.  Mamma  says  if  M™  Peyton  &  Mary 
do  not  come  she  shall  scold.  If  your  Sister  McGuire  knew  how  much 
her  company  would  add  to  my  happiness  on  that  day  I  know  that  she 
would  come.  Give  her  my  tenderest  affection,  in  which  I  am  joined  by 
my  parent ;  it  is  so  dark  I  can  hardly  see,  so  must  bid  you  Adieu.  God 
bless  you  one  &  all  prays 

“  Your  affectionate 

“  Mary  Blair  Whiting.” 

f  DocR  Little 
C.a:sAR|  Winchester.” 

“  The  gratification  which  I  experienced  from  the  polite  Letter  from 
my  D''  M''®  Whiting  could  only  be  exceeded  by  the  recollection  of  the 
happy  days  we  spent  together.  A^our  cotton  I  received  two  days  ago. 
The  weaver  thinks  there  is  Cotton  enough  to  warp  60  yards  &  it  will  take 
12  pounds  of  cord.  Price  of  weaving  18-pence.  Believe  me  to  he  your 
Sincere  Friend 

“  Francis  S.  S.  Scott 

“  Fredericksburg 

“  Feb.  22.” 

“Mrs  Eliza  Whiting  12.  cts. 

‘  ‘  By  Goshen 

Loudoun  County.” 

“  My  Dear  Brother  : 

‘‘  You  have  advantages  that  many  others  are  deprived  of;  you  have  a 
church  to  go  to.  I  hope  you  are  paying  great  attention  to  your  studies. 
Uncle  G.  has  gone  on  to  Limekilns  with  his  family.  Uncle  Carlisle  made 
us  a  visit  last  week.  My  love  to  Aunt  B  [Mrs.  Craighill]  :  &  also  to 
Cousin  Rat. 

“  Your  devoted  Sister 

“  Francis  Anne  Banister  Little 

“Mb  W.  H.  Little 

“Charlestown:  Jefferson  C“  V“.” 

“My  Dear  Mary: 

“  I  arrived  safe.  I  hope  Mary  is  better.  I  would  prefer  small  &  re¬ 
peated  bleedings,  with  the  consent  of  D’’  W  :  or  Leeches  to  the  Temples — 

“  R.  H.  Little.” 

“  Shelbyville  Ky  Sep  :  22  :  1832. 

“  Dr  Robert  : 

“  We  arrived  here  from  Orange  C.  H.  in  seven  days.  We  got  to  hand 
in  safety  after  a  most  dangerous  trip,  travelled  every  day  from  3  oc.  a.m. 
until  11  P.M.,  nine  passengers  inside  &  six  to  eight  outside  raining  gen- 


JOHN  BLAIR,  SR. 


63 


erally.  We  found  all  well  on  our  arrival  except  my  wife®  sister  from 
La :  It  is  reported  that  Cholera  is  at  Louisville  30  miles  west  of  us  «& 
there  are  reports,  that  it  rages  in  Charlestown  :  &  Harper®  Ferry.  Do 
for  God®  sake  write  me  imeadiately  &  say  whether  it  be  true  or  not  ?  I 
shall  he  most  miserable  until  I  hear  from  you  on  the  subject.  My  wife 
is  in  the  country.  My  best  love  to  Sister  Mary  &  all  the  Family  &  the 
Crosses,  Tooley  Campbell  &  Doct  L.  W.  Van  Wyck 
“  I  am  very  Truly 

“  Your  Brother 

“  Thos  :  W.  Little 

“  To  Dr  E.  H.  Little 

“  Millwood.” 

“  POSTOEFICE,  MaTSVILLE  Ky 

“  Yours  very  Respectfully 

“Joseph  D.  Barker.” 

“  Shelbytille  Ky  25. 

“  Sept:  23''»” 

“  Doct  Robt  H.  Little 

“  Millwood 

“  Fred'^  Co :  V®’ 

“  Mail.” 

“  My  dear  Cousin  : 

“  My  life  for  the  last  two  years  has  had  few  pleasures,  I  greatly  fear 
we  too  shall  meet  with  a  sad  loss  at  no  great  period :  My  Father 
Peachy  declines  fast,  sad  &  lonely  indeed  shall  we  feel  if  my  predictions 
are  verified  &  I  know  not  the  being  that  we  can  in  W“®burg  claim  as  a 
friend,  we  have  been  so  unsuccessful  in  Farming  that  we  have  broke  up 
our  Plantation  &  hired  out  our  Negroes,  had  this  been  done  sooner  it 
would  have  been  better.  My  Betsy  tho :  15  looks  like  a  Girl  of  13  &  will 
be  very  small.  Polly  is  rather  taller  &  will  I  think  make  a  pretty 
woman,  they  are  both  sweet  tempers,  &  I  would  not  have  you  think  my 
Bet  not  passable  tho :  her  sister  is  handsomer,  what  pleasure  should  could 
I  bring  them  to  see  you,  but  this  is  a  happiness  beyond  my  reach  to  at¬ 
tain,  I  am  vex’d  &  grieved  when  I  reflect  that,  my  dear  Sister,  should 
for  a  foolish  quarrel  be  deprived  the  solace  of  such  a  friend  as  you  w** 
have  made,  nothing  could  excuse  the  two  Banisters,  but  their  youth  for 
making  such  a  breach  between  friends.  I  have  learnt  Theod'*  with  some 
other  young  Chaps  as  thoughtless  as  himself  are  keeping  house  in  Edin¬ 
burg.  How  sad  it  is  for  children  to  be  so  giddy  &  extravagant.  Com¬ 
pany  obliges  me  to  conclude  hastily  but  not  without  assuring  my  dear 
Betsy  &  her  children  they  possess  mine  &  my  children®  love. 

“  yours  afiect‘5’ 

“  M.  M.  Peachy. 


“  Jan  :  IBU*  1804. 


64 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILAL 


“  "Wmsburg  Jany  20 :  1812. 

“  Since  I  addressed  a  long  letter  to  D*'  Little,  I  have  received  tn}"  dear 
Cousin  Whiting®  favor.  The  accident  to  D''  Little  must  have  been  ex¬ 
tremely  distressing  to  his  weakened  state.  My  carriage  Horses  have  been 
lame  since  my  journey  to  polly  Tabbs.  Dear  Charlott®  illness  D®  Galt  as 
D’’  Little  had  done  considers  to  be  bilious.  I  hope  Beverly  Blair  carried 
j’ou  the  parcel.  I  had  sent  the  little  wheel  I  had  promised  to  Cousin 
Mary  to  be  repaired.  We  anticipate  much  pleasure  in  seeing  her  &_the 
Doctor. 

“I  think  it  was  fortunate  that  John  &  B:  Blair  were  not  in  Ricli™'^ 
the  Night  that  the  Theatre  was  burnt  for  probably  they  might  have  been 
there.  My  son-in  law  Randolph  &  my  Daughter  Eliza  were  miracu¬ 
lously  saved.  I  heard  M"^  Noel  had  a  narrow  escape.  My  neighbour 
M"^®  Greenhowe  and  her  niece  Mrs  Gerradine  &  her  son  with  many  others 
of  m}'  acquaintance  fell  victims  to  the  devouring  flames.  The  distress 
and  consternation  by  this  melancholy  event  must  long  prevail — it  has 
been  an  eventful  period  for  there  have  been  three  shocks  of  an  earthquake 
felt  here — there  has  been  no  damage  further  than  making  some  people 
sick  at  stomach  during  its  continuance.  Cousin  Peachy  &  Mr  Henderson 
desire  to  be  remembered  to  you.  We  have  just  heard  of  the  death  of  M'® 
Fairfax  in  England :  Her  will  mentions  her  grandson  W.  Cary  &  her 
niece  Peachy.  God  bless  you  &  yours :  Kiss  the  children  for  me  and 
remember  me  to  all  the  servants :  yours  Affect’y 

“  Mary  Andrews.” 

“  Wmsburq  Va 

“Jany  27. 

“Mrs  Elizabeth  Whiting 
“Enfield, 

“  Prince  William. 

“  Goshen  Va  ” 


CHAPTER  III. 

JOHN  BLAIR,  JR. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  was  the  sou  of  Pres¬ 
ident  John  Blair,  and  is  known  as  either  Chancellor  or 
Judge  Blair.  The  author  will  endeavor  to  present  a 
picture  of  the  private  correspondence  addressed  to  a 


(Signer  of  the  Constitution  of  tlie  United  States  and  Associate  Judge  of 
United  States  Supreme  Court). 


JOHN  BLAIR,  JR. 


65 


favorite  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  Braxton,  in  the  outlines  of 
which  will  he  recognized  the  features  of  the  purest  affec¬ 
tion,  the  most  exalted  piety,  and  the  acumen  and  wisdom 
of  the  profound  and  learned  jurist. 

“  From  the  beginning  of  the  difficulties  with  Great 
Britain,”  says  the  historian,  “  Judge  Blair,  as  was  his 
venerable  father,  was  always  on  the  side  of  the  colony. 
When  he  had  finished  his  course  of  instruction  at  Wil¬ 
liam  and  Mary  College  he  repaired  to  London,  where  he 
puirsued  his  legal  studies  diligently  at  the  Temple,  and 
was  soon  engaged  in  full  business  at  the  bar  of  the  Gen¬ 
eral  Court.  He  entered  the  House  of  Burgesses  at  an 
early  age,  and  was  a  member  in  1765,  when,  on  the 
ground  maintained  by  Bland,  he  opposed  the  resolutions 
of  Henry.  In  1769,  when  the  House  of  Burgesses  was 
dissolved,  he  was  one  of  that  patriotic  band,  consisting  of 
Washington,  Bland,  and  others,  which  held  a  meeting  in 
the  Raleigh  and  drafted  the  non-importation  agreement, 
already  referred  to;  and  when  in  1770  the  house  was 
again  dissolved  and  the  members  again  assembled  in  the 
Raleigh  to  revise  and  amend  the  articles  of  agreement, 
associating  with  themselves  the  merchants  of  the  colony, 
he  was  among  them  and  recorded  his  name  on  that  roll, 
where  it  will  be  read  forever.  In  this  year  he  was  ap¬ 
pointed  one  of  the  executors  of  his  friend.  Lord  Botetourt. 
In  the  convention  then  sitting  he  appeared  as  the  delegate 
from  the  college  of  William  and  Mary,  and  was  a  member 
of  the  grand  committee  which  reported  the  Declaration 
of  Rights  and  the  constitution.  He  was  destined  to  be 
the  last  of  that  long  list  of  eminent  men  who  represented 
the  college  in  the  public  councils,  and  it  is  a  coincidence 
worth  observing,  that  as  the  college  received  the  privilege 
of  sending  a  niemher  to  the  House  of  Burgesses — a  privi¬ 
lege  which  she  used  so  wisely  for  more  than  eighty  years 
— from  the  charter  procured  by  James  Blair,  so  she  was 
to  lose  that  privilege  when  represented  by  his  distinguished 
relative.  That  he  fought  gallantly  in  defence  of  his  Alma 
Mater  may  he  readily  believed.  He  was  elected  by  the 
convention  a  member  of  the  council,  and  when  the  judi¬ 
cial  department  under  the  constitution  which  he  assisted 


66 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


in  framing  was  established  he  was  elected  a  judge  of  the 
General  Court,  of  which  he  became  chief  justice.  In 
1780  he  was  elected  a  judge  of  the  High  Court  of  Chan¬ 
cery,  and  by  virtue  of  both  stations  became  necessarily  a 
judge  of  the  first  Court  of  Appeals,  and  was  one  of  the 
court  when  the  law  requiring  the  judges  of  the  Court  of 
Appeals  to  act  as  judges  of  the  inferior  courts  was  pro¬ 
nounced  unconstitutional.  Hor  by  his  decisive  conduct 
did  he  forfeit  his  popularity  with  the  assembly,  for  he  was 
app)ointed  by  that  body  a  delegate  to  the  convention  which 
wms  about  to  assemble  in  Philadelphia  for  a  revision  of  the 
Articles  of  Confederation. 

“  In  that  assembly  he  supported,  with  Edmund  Ran¬ 
dolph  and  Madison,  what  was  called  the  Virginia  plan  in 
opposition  to  the  Hew  Jersey  scheme,  which  sustained  the 
separate  sovereignty  of  the  States;  and  with  Washington 
and  Madison  alone,  of  all  the  delegates  from  Virginia, 
voted  for  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  by  the  body ; 
and  when  the  Federal  Constitution  was  submitted  for  the 
ratification  of  Virginia  he  was  returned  from  the  county 
of  York  to  the  convention  which  was  to  decide  upon  it, 
and  again  voted  in  its  favor.  On  the  organization  of  the 
federal  judiciary  he  Avas  appointed  by  Washington,  be¬ 
tween  Avhom  and  himself  a  long  and  intimate  friendship 
had  subsisted,  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States,  discharging  the  duties  of  the  office  with 
ability  and  dignity  until  near  the  time  of  his  death  in  the 
city  of  Williamsburg,  on  the  thirty-first  of  August,  1800, 
in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age.  His  father.  President 
John  Blair,  had  preceded  him  some  Bvo  or  three  years 
before  the  declaration  of  independence,  leaving  a  spotless 
name  to  his  son.” — History  of  the  Convention  op  Vir¬ 
ginia,  1776,  by  Hugh  Blair  Grigsby,  LL.D. 

I  will  now  present  to  the  reader  the  “  Letters”  of  this 
illustrious  man,  addressed  to  Mrs.  Braxton,  his  sister  : 

“  WlLLIAMSBUKO 

“March  13*'^  1777. 

“  Dear  Sister, 

“  I  was  somewhat  uneasy  about  the  other  Part  of  your  advertisement 
and  conjectured  that  you  might  suppose  the  late  Act  of  Assembly  gave 


(Associate  Justice  iif  the  United  States  Suiireme  Court). 


JOHN  BLAIR,  JR. 


67 


you  a  Right  to  dispose  of  the  other  Tract  whereas  its  only  meaning  is  to 
give  a  Fee  Simple  to  those  who  before  had  only  an  Estate  in  Tail — it  en¬ 
larges  his  Right  but  gives  nothing  to  any  one  else.  You  indeed  are  Ten¬ 
ant  but  George  is  the  Tenant  in  tail  in  whose  favor  the  law  operates,  and 
as  he  is  under  age  his  Consent  will  not  give  a  Right  to  the  Purchaser. 
But  on  speaking  with  Col :  Brooke  I  find  that  you  were  aware  of  the 
Defect  of  Title  and  thought  of  proceeding  in  the  Sale  only  in  the  view  of 
warrenting  to  the  Purchaser  and  taking  the  Risque  on  your  self.  But 
then  I  presume  you  did  not  consider  that  the  Buyer  may  make  large  Im¬ 
provements  which  in  case  of  Recovery  might  fall  heavy  on  you,  and 
admit  that  you  might  with  the  greatest  Safety  rely  on  your  own  children 
yet  in  the  melancholy  event  of  their  dying  without  children  the  Inherit¬ 
ance  would  be  in  their  Uncle  M''  Braxton  who  would  be  under  no  Tie  to 
confirm  the  Title.  This  Reflection  made  me  fear  too  (what  I  believe 
would  give  you  Pain)  should  it  happen  that  M’’  Braxton  might  perhaps 
publish  a  counter  advertisement  and  forbid  the  sale,  as  I  had  not  an  op¬ 
portunity  of  consulting  you  on  this  matter  and  laying  the  Difiiculties 
before  you  I  thought  you  would  not  take  amiss  my  advising  George  to 
tell  Purdie  to  leave  that  Part  of  the  Advertisement  out  in  his  next 
Paper.  If  you  are  determined  to  go  on  it  will  be  easy  to  advertise  again. 

“I  was  in  hopes  my  wife  would  have  been  with  you  but  poor  Jenny 
is  so  afflicted  with  Hysteria,  (and  my  Cousin  Eustice  is  not  well)  that  she 
cannot  possibly  leave  home.  I  am 

“  Your  affect®  Brother 

“  John  Blair.” 

“  Wmsburo  October  1780. 

“  Dear  Sister, 

“  M''  Whiting  yesterday  delivered  me  your  Letter  of  the  23'''*  ult : 
Stranger  as  that  Gent:  is  to  me,  it  is  impossible  I  can  conceive  any  other 
opinion  of  him  than  what  you  teach  me  to  conceive.  He  is  of  a  very 
good  Family  and  I  can  have  no  Reason  to  doubt  that  he  deserves  the 
character  you  give  of  him.  In  an  aflair  of  so  much  consequence  to  Bet¬ 
sey,  I  would  not  suppress  if  I  were  acquainted  with  the  man  of  her  choice 
any  considerable  objection  he  might  be  liable  to ;  but  M''  Whiting  is  so 
perfectly  unknown  to  me  that  I  have  only  to  repose  myself  on  the  favor¬ 
able  Judgement  of  those  who  have  had  the  best  opportunity  of  making 
it  and  comfort  myself  with  the  fair  Prospect  of  my  Niece®  happiness. 
The  Distance  is  so  great  that  I  fear  it  will  be  too  Herculean  an  under¬ 
taking  for  me  to  witness  the  Joy  of  the  approaching  occasion.  Indeed  I 
shall  be  officially  confined  to  Richmond  at  the  Time  you  mention  and  for 
some  time  longer.  My  Daughter  is  very  desirous  of  seeing  the  last  act 
of  Betsey®  Liberty.  We  must  endeavor  to  gratify  her. 

“  On  the  score  of  Taxes  I  am  pretty  much  in  your  situation  really 
pinched,  but  there  is  too  much  Reason  to  think  it  is  the  case  of  our  Coun- 

6 


68 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


trymen  in  general.  My  wife  joins  me  in  Love  to  you  and  best  wishes  to 
the  Expecting  Heart  fluttering  Niece  we  have  with  you 

“  Your  affectionate  Brother 

“John  Blair. 

“  M''  Whiting  is  so  much  in  Haste  to  cross  over  to  Gloucester  he  can¬ 
not  stay  to  take  Dinner  with  us.  If  I  had  more  time  I  would  tell  you 
how  we  are  in  daily  expectation  of  another  Invasion  ;  but,  perhaps  it  may 
be  over  before  his  return  and  I  refer  you  to  him  for  an  account  of  it.” 


“  Scotch  Town 

_  „  “  Aug‘  30‘'^  1781. 

“  Dear  Sister, 

“  With  much  grief  of  my  own  and  real  sympathy  for  yours,  I  sit 
down  to  write  you  a  Letter  of  Condolence  on  as  great  a  Loss  as  could 
have  befallen  you,  yet  great  as  it  is  must  have  often  presented  itself  to 
your  Imagination  and  your  good  Sense  and  Experience  of  human  affairs 
must  always  have  ranked  it  among  the  possible  Events  and  taught  you 
in  some  Degree  to  be  prepared  for  it ;  possible  I  mean  with  Respect  to  its 
happening  in  your  own  Life-time,  but  an  event  no  way  contingent  but 
absolutely  certain  itself  it  being  appointed  for  all  men  once  to  die.  I  had 
never  heard  of  dear  George®  Sickness  til  its  fatal  catastrophe  was  an¬ 
nounced  to  me  at  M''  Lyon’s  in  my  way  to  his  Place.  I  knew  how  fast 
Nature  and  Affection  fondly  indulged  had  bound  him  to  you  and  the  sit¬ 
uation  in  which  the  sorrowful  change  would  necessarily  place  you  was  the 
first  thing  which  occurred  to  my  mind  and  if  anything  I  could  say  might 
have  the  least  tendency  to  alleviate  your  Grief,  I  thought  I  should  be 
happy  in  making  the  attempt.  To  subdue  the  feelings  of  Nature  were  as 
undesireable  as  it  is  impossible.  I  ask  you  not  to  put  him  out  of  mind  ; 
that  if  it  could  be  done  would  be  an  unworthy  Slight  of  his  good  Quali¬ 
ties  and  dutiful  Behavior  to  you.  Let  us  seek  for  comfort  where  alone 
it  may  be  found,  let  us  learn  a  dutiful  acquiescence  in  whatsoever  pro¬ 
ceeds  from  that  Great  Being  from  whom  we  ourselves  proceeded  and 
who  being  the  Sole  Author  of  all  our  enjoyments  has  an  undoubted 
Eight  to  withdraw  them  in  his  own  good  time  and  whose  Goodness  so 
conspicuous  in  his  General  Providence  may  be  as  eminent  for  aught  we 
know  though  not  so  plainly  discerned  even  when  He  deals  to  us  the 
bitter  cup  of  Affliction.  We  may  all  profit  in  the  School  of  Adversitj^  if 
we  will  but  make  a  proper  use  of  its  Sacred  Lessons.  If  in  this  life  only 
we  had  hope  it  would  indeed  be  harder  to  acquire  a  due  serenity  of  mind 
upon  the  loss  of  a  beloved  Friend.  If  he  were  absolutely  extinct  to  for¬ 
get  him  would  be  perhaps  necessary  to  our  Peace  of  Mind.  But  now 
as  our  Holy  Religion  teaches  we  may  contemplate  him  translated  to  a 
better  Life  and  ineffably  enjoying  all  that  variety  of  Bliss  which  Eye 
hath  not  seen  nor  Ear  heard  nor  the  Heart  conceived.  May  the  Celestial 
vision  forever  preserve  you  from  the  Gloominess  of  Grief  and  reconcile 


JOHN  BLAIR,  JR. 


69 


you  to  all  the  Dispensations  of  Him  who  cannot  err.  My  Situation  both 
with  Respect  to  my  Family  and  Fortune  (all  being  in  the  Power  of  the 
Enemy  and  much  in  their  possession)  is  bad  enough.  But  I  trust  for  a 
happy  issue  and  for  power  to  bear  all  His  appointments  as  I  ought. 

“  Your  affect :  Brother 

“  John  Blair.” 

‘‘August  15‘'‘  1782. 

‘‘Dear  Sister, 

“  I  yesterday  received  your  two  Letters  of  the  30*  ult :  and  4*  inst : 
and  have  waited  on  M''  Beale  to  day  to  confer  on  the  subject  of  them  with 
respect  to  the  land  he  understands  from  D''  Griffin  that  the  quantity  is 
only  1200  acres ;  he  did  not  object  to  me  the  reserve  you  propose  only  he 
was  afraid  all  the  improvements  might  be  located  on  the  part  reserved 
in  which  case  it  would  not  suit  him  He  would  not  therefore  upon  that 
account  as  well  as  because  he  was  ignorant  of  the  ages  and  value  of  the 
slaves  make  an  offer  at  present.  He  said  it  was  no  part  of  his  plan  to 
hire  the  negroes,  or  to  keep  the  land  in  his  own  occupation,  that  he 
bought  it  to  dispose  of  it  again  and  supposed  he  would  get  a  better  price 
in  proportion  for  the  whole  than  for  the  reversion.  Since  I  was  with 
him  M''  Royston  has  been  to  his  house  ;  and  though  by  his  account  there 
are  conveniences  enough  for  cropping  besides  improvements  proposed  to 
be  reserved  he  tells  me  M''  Beale  has  come  to  a  resolution  not  to  purchase 
unless  you  would  part  with  the  whole.  This  I  suppose  puts  an  end  to  the 
negotiation  unless  you  would  agree  upon  a  price  for  the  whole,  but  Sus¬ 
pend  the  bargain  til  you  could  meet  with  some  other  habitation  to  your 
mind.  M''  Beale  has  taken  a  copy  of  the  list  you  sent  me  of  the  Slaves 
and  observed  upon  it  that  he  was  disappointed  with  regard  to  the  increase 
— the  number  now  being  not  greater  than  at  the  time  of  M''  BurwelF  deed 
to  D''  Griffin.  I  told  him  I  knew  nothing  of  that  only  that  I  had  ob¬ 
serv’d  in  one  part  of  your  letter  you  spoke  of  having  lost  several  Negroes. 
As  soon  as  I  have  opportunity  I  will  apply  to  M''  Rob‘  Randolph  and  to 
M''  S.  and  endeavour  to  procure  from  those  Gent  :  the  amt:  of  what  they 
owe.  I  suppose  these  are  debts  due  to  poor  Geo:  have  you  administered 
on  his  estate?  on  the  supposition  that  I  have  made  that  will  be  necessary 
in  case  of  suits.  I  observe  you  blame  Wilson  Cary  for  the  detention  of 
the  horse.  His  father  used  the  horse  in  a  trip  to  Fluvanna  from  Scots- 
town,  while  the  horse  was  there  he  was  well  taken  [care]  of. 

“  I  can  give  you  no  comfort  from  the  source  of  the  public  Treasury. 
The  Assembly  have  given  no  directions  about  the  mode  of  paying  off  cer¬ 
tificates  nor  is  the  Treasury  in  condition  to  pay  oft'  anything  as  I  fatally 
experience  myself,  which  is  the  severer  upon  me  as  the  French  Army 
have  entirely  broke  up  my  plantation  by  me,  that  I  have  everything  to 
buy  with  but  this  was  done  bj'  the  Army  which  was  here  during  theseige  of 
Yorktown.  The  British  too  had  before  plundered  my  stocks  of  all  sorts 


70 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


in  a  great  degree.  I  recovered  back  all  tbe  Negroes  I  had  lost  except 
two  who  had  died  with  the  Enemy  and  3  more  who  have  got  off,  but 
many  of  these  I  recovered  on  the  Surrender  of  Y^ork  are  since  dead  of 
diseases  they  brought  home  with  them  and  which  they  fatally  communi¬ 
cated  to  several  others.  My  loss  upon  the  whole  has  been  very  great.  I 
hope  however  we  shall  not  want  the  necessaries  of  life  and  if  we  can  but 
scuffle  through  this  and  the  next  year  which  will  pinch  us  much  for  want 
of  those  helps  the  plantation  used  to  afford. 

“  Pray  give  my  lo\e  to  my  Niece  Whiting  and  tell  her  I  am  exceed¬ 
ingly  obliged  to  her  for  the  present  she  sent  me  of  a  pair  of  stockings. 
We  all  request  you  would  exert  yourself  to  dispel  melancholy  and  recon¬ 
cile  yourself  to  the  events  which  Heaven  has  approved.  We  all  are  at 
present  in  good  health,  but  the  sickly  season  is  fast  approaching. 

“  I  am  always, 

“Your  affect:  Brother, 

“  John  Blair.” 

“Richmond  May  24‘'‘  1783. 

“  Dear  Sister  : 

“  I  have  received  at  last  a  letter  from  Rob*  Randolph  in  answer  to 
mine  on  the  subject  of  your  demand.  His  came  to  hand  a  little  before  I 
left  Williamsburg  and  was  delayed  so  long  I  suppose  by  my  letters  not 
getting  to  his  hand  so  soon  as  I  expected.  He  happened  not  to  be  at 
Shirley  at  which  place  I  directed  my  letter  to  him,  but  at  Chatham  (M* 
Fitzhugh®  seat)  from  whence  his  letter  is  dated.  He  desires  me  to  tell 
you  that  he  paid  M*  Carter  Braxton  of  West*  point  the  money  due  for 
the  horse  he  purchased  12  months  ago  and  has  his  receipt  for  it.  I  sup¬ 
pose  M*  Braxton  told  him  he  was  the  proper  person  to  receive  it.  Was 
the  horse  yours  or  George*  ?  If  the  latter  the  person  taking  out  letters 
of  administration  is  the  proper  person  to  receive  the  Money  and  this  I 
suppose  you  have  done  before  this  time  in  Prince  William  Court — in  that 
case  the  payment  will  not  bind  you  but  you  may  either  call  on  M''  Ran¬ 
dolph  for  the  money  or  resort  to  M''  Braxton.  As  to  the  sword  he  says 
I  am  sensible  I  returned  it  to  M''  Braxton  before  his  death.  I  have  heard 
lately  from  home  when  all  were  well.  I  am  not  quite  so  myself  being 
much  fatigued  with  business  which  however  is  drawing  to  a  close.  I  am 
dear  Sister  with  best  Regards  to  M"'  &  M’'*  Whiting, 

“Your  affect:  Brother, 

“  John  Blair.” 

“  Wmsburg,  Jan^  6*'*  1787. 

“  Dear  Sister  : 

“I  received  your  melancholy  letter  of  the  3'''*  of  November  in  the 
same  month  while  I  was  attending  public  business  in  Richmond.  I  was 
heartily  concerned  for  my  Niece*  hapless  situation  ;  but  hope  that  before 


JOHN  BLAIR,  JR. 


71 


this  time  the  violence  of  her  grief  may  have  subsided  and  religious  reflec¬ 
tions  given  a  calm  to  her  troubled  spirits.  Her  loss  is  no  doubt  great  and 
the  stroke  when  first  received  would  be  too  powerful  for  the  office  of  phil¬ 
osophy.  But  He  who  afflicts  even  in  His  severest  dispensations  in  this 
life  thinks  upon  mercy.  If  he  have  made  us  of  so  delicate  a  substance 
that  we  are  subject  to  ineffable  poignancy  of  grief  he  has  provided  also  a 
remedy  in  our  constitution  which  yields  to  the  lenient  hand  of  time ; 
while  that  religion  of  which  he  has  made  us  susceptible  powerfully  co¬ 
operates  to  reconcile  us  to  all  his  appointments,  of  these  resources  I  trust 
Betsey  has  well  availed  herself.  My  love  to  her  and  tell  her  that  if  when 
the  weather  will  permit  she  could  take  a  trip  down  the  country  to  see  her 
long  absent  friends,  I  conceive  it  would  prove  an  additional  remedy  to 
chase  away  her  grief.  I  should  have  answered  your  letter  while  in  Rich¬ 
mond  ;  but  I  was  so  full  of  employment  of  one  sort  or  another  as  not  to 
leave  me  the  opportunity.  While  there  M'^  Braxton  shewed  me  a  receipt 
of  Russell’s  for  money  which  he  paid  M”  Hunter  on  your  account 
and  which  he  said  you  had  disputed.  Among  the  receipts  which  M” 
Hunter  gave  you  an  account  of  is  there  one  for  that  sum  ?  All  here  join 
in  best  affections  and  I  am  your  loving  Brother 

“  John  Blair.” 

“  Wmssbdrq  Jany  16*  1796. 

“  Dear  Sister, 

“  Your  letter  of  the  28*  of  last  month  came  lately  to  hand  on  my  re¬ 
turn  home  from  Ceeleys  where  I  left  all  well.  I  feel  uneasiness  from 
your  inquiry  concerning  your  deed  of  trust  to  me  antecedent  to  your  in¬ 
termarriage  with  M’'  Burwell  as  it  seems  to  say  that  M’’  Prescott  has 
creditors  who  depend  for  satisfaction  only  upon  what  they  can  get  from 
your  estate.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  your  deed  of  trust  executed 
before  your  last  marriage  was  not  duly  recorded ;  that  would  have  Se¬ 
cured  you.  I  hope,  however,  you  are  still  safe  or  partly  so.  I  am  pleased 
to  think  that  all  jmur  property  was  settled  on  me  in  trust,  and  the  deed 
recorded.  Your  counseller  in  the  enclosed  queries  makes  a  question  of 
those  facts.  I  hope  not  for  me  to  answer  for  my  memory  is  so  bad  that 
however  true  it  may  be  I  have  no  recollection  of  it  at  all  but  if  the  Trust- 
deed  were  recorded  the  record  will  never  forget  and  as  you  know  it  to  be 
so  I  shall  take  it  for  granted,  the  only  thing  their  which  can  make  it  any 
way  doubtful  whether  that  deed  can  operate  still  as  a  protection  of  your 
property  is  that  possibly  the  deed  may  have  been  so  framed,  as  to  become 
void  on  Col :  BurwelP  death  the  design  of  it  having  been  to  prevent  the 
property  from  falling  under  his  dominion — otherwise  I  suppose  the  legal 
property  to  reside  still  in  the  trustee.  I  wish  this  protection  could  be 
extended  much  farther ;  but  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  it  does  not  seem  to 
reach  so  far  as  to  take  in  any  property  you  have  acquired  since  Col :  Bur- 


72 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


well®  death,  or  by  virtue  of  his  will  and  this  I  fear  may  be  a  serious  open¬ 
ing  to  M''  Prescott®  creditors.  When  I  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  from 
you  again  pray  inform  me  of  the  extent  of  their  claims. 

“  Jany ;  27"' 

“  The  29“^  of  October  Jenny  Henderson  was  safely  delivered  of  a  Son 
who  took  the  name  of  James  Blair  and  staid  with  us  just  three  weeks 
when  be  was  again  born  into  a  better  world.  My  Sister  Banister  has 
been  very  sick  for  a  few  days ;  this  day  being  very  snowy  I  have  not 
heard  of  her.  Betty  Cary®  wedding  clothes  are  employing  all  hands  as 
hard  as  possible ;  soon  after  they  get  home  we  expect  a  Summons  to  Cee- 
leys.  I  hope  you  all  have  got  rid  of  your  colds.  I  have  just  taken  a 
very  bad  one. 

“  Your  affect :  Brother 

“  John  Blaie. 

“  To  save  you  the  expense  of  postage  I  have  waited  some  time  for  a 
private  opportunity.  M>'  Darby  of  this  town  I  am  told  is  going  shortly 
to  Philadelphia  and  will  (I  hope)  deliver  it  at  the  post  office  in  Dum¬ 
fries.” 

“  Wmsbhrg  Aug‘  15‘**  1796. 

“Dear  Sister, 

“  In  my  last  letter  I  requested  information  from  you  as  to  the  Situa¬ 
tion  of  M''  Prescott®  affairs  as  I  thought  it  too  probable  that  altho  :  Col ; 
Burwell®  marriage  contract  might  protect  the  property  you  had  ante¬ 
cedent  to  that  event  still  the  property  which  he  devised  to  you  would  be 
uncovered  and  exposed  to  the  claim  of  M''  Prescott®  creditors  and  this 
made  me  anxious  to  know  the  amount  of  his  debts  but  have  heard  noth¬ 
ing  since:  had  the  deed  which  was  executed  between  him  and  you  and 
your  trustees  before  your  intermarriage  been  recorded  as  it  ought  to  have 
been  you  would  have  been  safe;  but  that  not  having  been  done  within 
the  time  prescribed  by  law  I  do  not  see  how  the  creditors  can  be  parryed. 
As  the  undertaking  to  have  the  deed  recorded  was  an  act  of  friendship 
probably  j’-ou  would  not  wish  to  subject  to  any  loss  those  who  merely 
from  favour  and  without  any  view  of  profit  undertook  to  have  that  done 
and  yet,  I  suppose  them  liable  to  your  indemnification. 

“  Neither  of  my  daughters  are  very  well,  Mary  has  been  hysterical  in 
very  high  degree,  but  I  hope  is  growing  much  better  ;  Jenny  and  myself 
a  few  weeks  past  were  sent  for  to  take  leave  of  her.  We  accounted  for 
it  from  the  nature  of  the  complaint ;  but  when  we  went  we  found  all  the 
family  in  tears  and  I  really  feared  the  worst.  Jenny  is  only  beginning 
to  be  sick,  having  had  a  few  fevers  at  night  without  any  ague  and  I  much 
fear  she  will  be  very  sick.  I  have  been  a  good  deal  distressed  myself  by 
almost  continual  cholics,  yet  I  have  a  good  appetite  and  eat  I  believe 
more  than  is  good  for  me ;  that  and  the  want  of  teeth  to  masticate  my 
food  properly  are  probably  the  cause  of  my  malady. 


JOHN  BLAIR,  JR. 


73 


“  Oar  Sister  Banister  is  well  having  lately  parted  with  her  Son  Monro 
and  little  Rob';  the  former  sailed  last  Tuesday  for  New  York  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  an  invitation  given  my  Sister  by  Mr  Constable  to  send  him  one 
of  her  sons  whom  he  offers  to  educate  at  his  own  expense ;  Rob'^  father  is 
sending  him  to  Scotland  to  be  under  the  care  of  some  relations  there  and 
in  the  mean  time  under  that  of  a  particular  friend  of  D'  Wilson  whom 
(he  believes)  will  be  as  tender  of  him  at  sea  as  he  could  be  himself. 
Two  or  three  months  past  I  received  a  letter  dated  O"*  Nov :  from  our 
Sister  Thompson  who  complains  in  some  degree  of  ill  health.  The  Ad¬ 
miral  also  grows  infirm  ;  the  rest  are  well ;  but  the  excessive  rise  in  the 
price  of  necessaries  exhausts  their  income  before  the  end  of  the  year  and 
has  given  them  some  thought  of  removing  to  some  cheaper  country. 

“  P.  S.  My  love  to  Betsey :  her  Polly  &  sons  and  accept  yourself 
that  of 

“  Your  affect :  Brother 

“  John  Blair. 

“  My  daughter  Henderson  desires  her  love  to  her  Aunt  &  all  her 
Cousins.  ” 

“  Wmsbtjrg  July  S'**  1799. 

“  Dear  Sister, 

“  My  Silence  for  so  long  time  notwithstanding  the  afflicting  circum¬ 
stances  of  your  illness  as  contained  in  your  daughters  Letters  to  some  of 
the  Family,  my  own  infirmities  will  sufficiently  account  for.  I  was  on 
the  6"'  Nov'  1797,  struck  with  a  strange  disorder  to  which  I  know  not 
how  to  give  a  name,  since  the  Doctor  does  not  allow  it  to  be  paralytic, 
the  effects  of  which  are  to  me  most  melancholy  depriving  me  of  nearly 
all  the  powers  of  mind.*  The  effect  was  very  sudden  and  instantaneous. 
I  happened  to  be  employed  in  some  algebraical  exercises  (of  which  kind 
of  amusement  I  was  very  fond)  when  all  at  once  a  torpid  numbness  seized 
my  whole  face  and  I  found  my  intellectual  powers  much  weakened  and 
all  was  confusion.  My  tongue  partook  of  the  distress  and  some  words  I 
was  not  able  to  articulate  distinctly  and  a  general  difficulty  of  remember¬ 
ing  words  at  all.  There  are  intervals  when  all  these  distresses  abate  con¬ 
siderably  ;  but  there  are  times  when  I  am  unable  to  read  and  am  obliged 
to  lay  aside  a  newspaper  or  whatever  else  I  may  happen  to  be  engaged 
in.  I  am  very  awkward  in  writing,  which,  of  course,  is  an  unpleasant 
employment,  but  having  so  inviting  an  opportunity  by  M'  Cary  who  will 
call  on  you  in  his  way  on  a  visit  to  his  daughter  Fairfax  I  would  not 
slip  but  embrace  it  to  offer  my  sincere  condolence  for  your  afflicted  state. 
The  relief  I  find  most  powerful  in  my  own  case  I  heartily  recommend  to 
you.  They  are  evils  indeed  and  great  ones  ;  but  they  have  their  certain 


*  In  consequence  of  this  serious  illness  Judge  Blair  resigned  his  seat 

in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States. 


74 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


measure  if  we  do  not  increase  them  by  unnecessary  complainings  of  our 
condition  and  by  repinings  at  Providence  who  best  knows  what  is  good 
for  man.  On  the  contraiy  by  a  dutiful  submission  to  His  will  who  often 
tries  in  the  School  of  affliction  we  shall  derive  consolations  which  will 
greatly  alleviate  our  present  sufferings  and  open  to  us  the  fair  prospect  of 
infinitely  greater  in  a  better  world.  This  remedy  I  believe  jmu  do  apply 
with  the  faith  of  a  Christian  and  God  grant  that  it  may  have  its  natural 
effect  to  restore  tranquility  of  mind  and  of  course  happiness.  I  say 
nothing  of  friends  here  as  M"'  Cary  and  my  Sister  Banister  (who  accom¬ 
panies  him)  know  &  can  communicate  every  thing.  Jenny  Henderson 
desires  her  love  and  unites  in  all  my  wishes  for  your  good  ;  Mary  An¬ 
drews  writes  herself.  My  love  to  Betsey  "Whiting.  I  rejoice  that  she  is 
capable  of  being  still  its  object ;  we  had  some  time  ago  a  report  that  she 
was  not  in  the  land  of  the  living ;  but  she  lives  to  contradict  it.  Her 
Sons  are  at  school  I  hear  at  Dumfries.  May  success  attend  their  studies 
and  they  become  ornaments  to  their  country. 

“  Adieu,  My  dear  Sister, 

“  From  your  affectionate  Brother, 

“  John  Blair.” 

The  orthography  and  handwriting  of  the  above  letter, 
the  last  in  the  possession  of  the  author,  shows  a  tremulous 
hand  and  a  wavering  mind. 

In  conclusion,  the  crowning  glory  of  John  Blair,  the 
friend  of  George  Washington  and  judge  of  the  first  Fed¬ 
eral  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  maybe  said  to 
be  that  he  contributed  to  create  the  present  Constitution 
of  the  United  States,  September  17,  1787,  by  which  it 
was  agreed  that 

“  We,  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to  form 
a  more  perfect  union,  establish  justice,  insure  domestic 
tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common  defence,  promote  the 
general  welfare,  and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  our¬ 
selves  and  our  posterity,  do  ordain  and  establish  this  Con¬ 
stitution  for  the  United  States  of  America.” 

It  is  declared  in  Article  L,  Section  x.,  “  Uo  State  shall 
enter  into  any  treaty,  alliance,  or  confederation.” 

Also,  the  oath  of  the  President:  “  I  do  solemnly  swear 
(or  atfirm)  that  I  will  ....  preserve,  protect,  and  defend 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.” 


JOHN  BLAIR,  JR. 


75 


Article  III.,  Section  iii.,  declares,  “  Treason  against  the 
United  States  shall  consist  in  levying  war  against  them, 
or  in  adhering  to  their  enemies.” 

£Jsto  perpetua. 

On  the  13th  day  of  October,  1778,  the  Masons  of  the 
colony  of  Virginia  convened  in  the  Williamsburg  Lodge 
in  such  numbers  as  to  give  them  a  legal  majority,  when 
they  proceeded  to  the  organization  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Virginia  by  the  election  of  Eight  Worshipful  John 
Blair,  Past  Master  of  Williamsburg  Lodge,  Grand  Master 
of  the  State. 

While  the  author  is  unable  to  trace  the  connection  be¬ 
tween  the  Blairs  of  Virginia  and  the  Blair  family  of  the 
Uew  England  States,  it  may  be  interesting  to  notice  that 
a  like  character  and  kindred  aims  to  educate  and  to  pro¬ 
mote  the  best  interests  of  mankind  has  during  the  present 
century  been  manifested  in  the  person  of  the  Hon. 
Henry  W.  Blair,  United  States  Senator  from  Hew  Hamp¬ 
shire,  author  of  the  Educational  Bill  to  donate  to  the 
several  States  of  the  Union  seventy  million  dollars  of  the 
public  money  for  educational  purposes,  and  also  author  of 
the  Prohibitory  Amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  to  prohibit  “  the  manufacture  and  the  sale 
of  all  alcoholic  liquors  as  a  beverage,”  June  14, 1890,  and 
now  United  States  Minister  Plenipotentiary  to  the  Chinese 
Government,  April,  1891. 

“A  Memoir  of  a  Portion  of  the  Bolling  Family  in 
England  and  Virginia.  Printed  for  Private  Distribution. 
Eichmond,  Va, :  W.  H.  Wade  &  Co.,  1868,”  and  from 
which  we  quote,  contains  a  fine  portrait  of  Elizabeth 
Blair,  the  wife  of  John  Bolling,  Jr.  On  page  9  the 
author  states ; 

“  Mr.  John  Blair,  son  of  President  Blair,  afterwards 
judge  of  the  High  Court  of  Chancery  in  Virginia  and 
subsequently  one  of  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 


76 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


the  United  States  appointed  by  General  Washington,  as¬ 
sociate  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
in  1789,  in  which  office  he  died.  He  studied  law  in  Mid¬ 
dle  Temple,  received  Mr.  Bolling  when  a  youth  in  1755 
on  his  arrival  at  London  in  his  apartments,  Avhere  he  re¬ 
mained  till  the  14th  of  January,  1756,  when  he  entered  a 
school  at  Wakefield,  in  Yorkshire.  John  Blair  was  a  rel¬ 
ative  of  young  Bolling,  John  Bolling  having  married  a 
daughter  of  Archibald  Blair.  Amoving  Blair  was  at  this 
time  in  his  twenty-third  year,  had  passed  with  honor 
through  the  classes  of  William  and  Mary  College,  was 
studying  law  in  the  Temple,  and  was  a  very  fair  represen¬ 
tative  of  the  educated  youth  of  the  colony.  He  was  about 
five  feet  ten  inches  in  height,  of  an  erect  and  imposing  stat¬ 
ure,  with  a  noble  forehead,  blue  eyes,  a  well-formed  nose, 
not  deficient  in  size,  hair  inclining  to  [be]  red,  and  an  ex¬ 
pression  of  sweetness  and  gravity  which  adhered  to  him 
through  life.  He  soon  after  returned  to  Virginia,  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law,  became  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Burgesses  and  a  member  of  all  the  early  conventions  and 
of  the  Vii’ginia  convention  of  1788,  as  well  as  of  the 
General  Federal  Convention  Avhieh  formed  the  Federal 
Constitution.  His  name  and  that  of  Madison  are  the 
only  names  from  Virginia  excepting  that  of  Washington 
attached  to  that  instrument.  On  the  formation  of  the 
new  State  judiciary  he  was  placed  on  the  bench  by  the 
side  of  Wythe  and  Pendleton,  and  on  the  establishment 
of  the  Federal  courts  he  was  made  an  associate  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  the  duties  of 
which  office  he  performed  until  his  death  in  the  city  of 
Williamsburg  on  the  31st  of  August,  1800,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-eight.  His  manners,  formed  in  the  school  of  Fau¬ 
quier  and  Botetourt  and  in  the  refined  society  of  the  an¬ 
cient  metropolis,  where  his  name  and  memory  are  still 
living  in  the  hospitable  mansion  of  one  of  his  descendants 
and  in  the  hearts  of  all,  were  marked  by  high-bred  cour¬ 
tesy  and  gentleness  ;  and  he  preserved  to  the  last  that 
strict  attention  to  his  dress  which  was  the  characteristic 
of  the  colonial  regime.  A  beautiful  enamelled  miniature 
of  the  face  of  this  fine  old  patriot  is  before  us  as  we  trace 
these  lines.  The  hair  has  not  yet  lost  entirely  the  reddish 
tinge  of  his  earlier  years,  though  a  more  ample  forehead 


JOHN  BLAIR,  JR. 


77 

attracts  attention,  and  the  placid  gentleness  of  youth  still 
adorns  his  venerable  features.  Like  all  the  patriots  of 
the  field  and  the  forum  of  the  Revolution,  he  has  no  hair 
upon  his  face ;  he  is  attired  in  a  blue  coat,  with  a  high 
collar,  a  white  vest  buttoning  to  the  throat,  and  a  white 
cravat  without  a  collar.  The  name  of  the  artist  is  un¬ 
known  to  us,  though  it  is  probably  the  work  of  the  elder 
Rembrandt  Peale,  and  has  a  delicacy  of  touch  beyond  the 
reach  of  Durand,  to  whose  brush  we  owe  so  many  of  the 
surviving  portraits  of  the  colonial  era.  Ilis  descendant, 
William  S.  Peachy,  Esrp,  of  Williamsburg,  has  a  full- 
sized  portrait  of  the  judge.  Judge  Blair  was  descended 
from  a  brother  of  the  Commissary  -James  Blair,  as  are  all 
those  who  bear  the  name  in  Virginia,  with  the  exception 
of  those  who  are  sprung  from  the  Rev.  John  D.  Blair,  of 
Richmond,  in  the  olden  time.  And  we  may  mention 
here  that  a  full-sized  portrait  of  the  commissary  and  one 
of  his  wife  still  exist  and  are  at  iwesent  in  the  parlor  of 
the  president  of  William  and  Mary  College,  suspended 
near  the  portrait  of  the  celebrated  Robert  Boyle,  of  whose 
charity  the  Brafterton  house  in  the  college  yard  still  ex¬ 
ists  as  a  memorial.  A  blessing  seems  always  to  have 
rested  on  the  name  of  Blair.  The  venerable  head  of  the 
family  in  Virginia,  the  Rev.  -James  Blair,  the  commissary 
of  the  bishop  of  Jjondon  for  Virginia, — an  oftice  of  the 
same  class  and  dignity  as  that  of  the  present  bishop  of 
the  diocese  of  the  Ej)iscopal  Church  in  this  State, — came 
over  in  1685  after  having  withdrawn  from  Scotland  to 
England  iji  consequence  of  the  religious  turmoils  that 
distracted  his  native  land.  Peace  and  good  will  to  men 
and  a  love  of  letters  composed  his  motto,  which  he  illus¬ 
trated  by  a  series  of  discourses  on  the  sermon  of  our 
Saviour  on  the  mount  and  by  his  obtaining  from  Iving 
William  in  1692  tbe  charter  of  William  and  Mary  Col¬ 
lege.  This  old  man  lived  in  the  full  enjojunent  of  his 
faculties  to  August  1,  174-3,  when  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
eight  he  died,  and  was  buried  at  Jamestown,  where  a 
beautiful  tomb,  on  which  was  recorded  an  elegant  T.,atin 
inscription  and  which  we  saw  in  its  perfect  state  in  1835, 
was  erected  to  his  memory  by  his  nephews,  who  were  also 
his  heirs.  This  tomb  had  a  singular  fate.  A  tree  which 
grew  np  by  its  side  seventy  or  eighty  3’ears  after  its  erec- 


78 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


tion  overlapped  the  flat  top  stone  and  hore  it  from  the 
shell  several  feet  in  the  air.  In  this  position  the  stone 
was  broken  by  some  reckless  young-  men.  He  died  child¬ 
less,  bequeathing  his  books  to  his  darling  college.  Just 
as  his  sun  went  down  there  arose  one  of  his  name  and 
race,  a  nephew  whom  he  had  educated,  John  Blair,  who 
succeeded  the  commissary  as  a  member  of  the  council 
and  became  also  the  president  of  the  body,  as  his  uncle 
had  been  before  him,  and  displayed  in  the  administration 
of  its  duties  a  wisdom  and  clemency  that  now  brighten 
his  name  on  the  page  of  history.  He  died  before  the 
Revolution,  but  not  before  his  son.  Judge  John  Blair  of 
the  text,  had  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Burgesses  and  was  a 
prominent  lawyer  at  the  bar  of  the  General  Court.  This 
son  died  while  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States  in  1800,  being  one  of  three  men  of  the 
same  name  and  blood  Avho  had  tilled  continuously  the 
highest  religious  and  civil  oflices  of  the  colony  and  com¬ 
monwealth  and  of  the  Union  from  1687  to  1800,  a  period 
of  one  hundred  and  thirteen  years.  During  the  present 
century  it  may  be  safely  said  that  those  who  have  borne 
the  name  and  the  blood  of  the  patriarch,  if  not  conspicu¬ 
ous  in  the  bustling  arena  of  politics,  have  graced  the  walks 
of  professional  and  domestic  life.  It  may  be  observed, 
also,  that  though  the  venerable  commissary  died  without 
children,  the  college  which  he  founded  has  ever  been  an 
object  of  affection  to  those  who  own  his  name  and  his 
blood.  Three  times  has  the  main  structure  of  the  college 
been  destroyed  by  Are.  The  old  president,  as  he  super¬ 
intended  the  flrst  building,  so  he  presided  over  the  ar¬ 
rangements  for  the  erection  of  the  second ;  and  when 
that  second  ediflce  wms  burned  in  1858,  the  chairman  of 
the  building  committee  on  the  part  of  the  visitors  bore 
his  name ;  and  when  that  building  Avas  destroyed  during 
the  late  Avar,  of  the  three  members  of  the  committee  ap¬ 
pointed  by  the  visitors  to  superintend  the  erection  of  the 
neAv  structure  one  of  them,  Avho  Avas  also  chairman,  hore 
the  name,  and  another  Avas  the  lineal  descendant  of  the 
nepheAvof  the  flrst  president.  Thus  for  one  hundred  and 
seven  years  has  the  name  of  Blair  been  connected  with 
the  building  of  the  main  edifice  of  William  and  Mary 
College. 


JOHN  BLAIR,  JR. 


79 


“  The  question  arises,  To  which  branch  of  the  mingled 
races  that  make  np  the  British  people  do  the  Blairs  be¬ 
long  ? — whether  to  the  Saxon,  the  Xorman,  or  the  Celtic  ? 
If  we  derive  the  races  from  the  names  which  they  hear, 
they  would  seem  to  be  Celtic,  for  Blair  is  a  common  Celtic 
word,  signifying  an  open  space,  and  thence  from  the  pug¬ 
nacious  qualities  of  the  Scotch  people  it  came  to  mean  a 
field  of  battle.  But  in  this  case  it  is  plainly  a  delusive  test, 
as  there  was  no  sept  or  clan  of  Blair ;  and  it  is  univer¬ 
sally  known  that  the  Lowland  Scotch  are  almost  entirely 
sprung  fi'om  the  Anglo-Saxons,  who  at  an  early  date  pen¬ 
etrated  to  the  base  of  the  Highlands  and  more  after  the 
Herman  invasion,  and  at  the  origin  of  surnames,  a  com¬ 
paratively  recent  period,  took,  after  the  English  fashion, 
the  names  of  the  places  near  which  they  dwelt.  We  thus 
lean  to  the  opinion  that  the  race  is  Saxon.”  (See  Wynne’s 
“Historical  Documents  from  the  Old  Dominion,”  Ho.  IV.) 

“  Gather  up  the  fragments  that  remain.” 


The  reader  will  pardon  the  quotation  of  so  lengthy  an 
extract  to  develop  the  biographies  of  the  Blairs,  but  the 
temptation  has  proved  irresistible  to  the  author  to  present 
so  concise  and  comprehensive  a  resume  as  is  this  inimitable 
monograph,  originally  in  French,  and  translated  by  Judge 
John  Robertson  when  a  j’outh.  From  this  history,  also, 
we  learn  that  Commissary  Blair  had  two  nephews,  John 
and  Archibald.  The  latter’s  daughter,  Elizabeth  Blair, 
married  John  Bolling  August  1,  1728.  The  Bolling 
family  resided  at  Bolling  Hall,  near  Bradford,  Yorkshire, 
England,  in  the  reign  of  Edward  IV.  In  1675  Robert 
Bolling  married  Jane  Rolph,  the  granddaughter  of  Poca¬ 
hontas;  Varina  was  one  of  his  estates.  Among  others 
of  the  descendants  of  John  Bolling  and  Elizabeth  Blair 
are  Thomas  Bolling,  born  at  Varina,  1735,  who  married 
Betty  Gay,  daughter  of  Dr.  Gay.  Varina  is  now  known 
as  Aiken’s  Landing.  Through  the  courtesy  of  Mrs.  Gay 
Bernard  Robertson  Flenring,  the  wife  of  Alfred  Walton 
Fleming,  Esq.,  attorney-at-law,  Washington,  D.C.,  the 


80 


THE  BLAIE  FAMILY. 


above  facts  are  elicited.  This  lady  is  the  granddaughter 
of  the  late  J udge  Eobertson,  of  the  circuit  court  of  Eich- 
moud,  Virginia,  also  member  of  Congress  from  that  dis¬ 
trict  and  attorney-general  of  Virginia. 

Among  other  splendid  copies  of  portraits  contained 
in  the  memoir  of  the  Bolling  family,  and  which  the  au¬ 
thor  affirms  were  executed  by  the  elder  Peale,  is  one  of 
Elizabeth  Blair,  the  wife  of  John  Bolling,  Jr.*  Among 
the  autographs  given  in  the  text  of  this  book  is  one  of 
Archibald  Blair,  clerk  of  the  chancery  court  of  Eich- 
mond.  His  cousin,  John  Blair,  president  of  the  council, 
was  the  father  of  Judge  John  Blair,  Mary  Blair,  wife  of 
George  Braxton  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Admiral  Thompson, 
E.  H.,  and  Ann,  wife  of  Colonel  Banister,  and  other 
daughters.  In  the  records  of  the  Masonic  Order  of  Vir¬ 
ginia,  A.  L.  5784  (a.d.  1784),  A.  F.  A.  Masoiiry  in  Virginia, 
1777-91,  is  contained  all  of  our  knowledge  of  the  connec¬ 
tion  of  the  Blairs  and  other  prominent  men  of  the  State 
and  the  nation  Avith  the  order.  The  colonists  of  Virginia, 
it  is  asserted,  brought  over  the  vocabulary  of  King  James’s 
day,  Avhich  Avas  the  vocabulary  of  Shakespeare,  Spenser, 
Ealeigh,  and  Bacon,  and  to  this  day  preserve  it  in  its 
purity.  “  Eaised”  in  such  a  place  is  correct;  “tote,” 
“  tolt,”  from  “  tollo,”  Avere  in  use  at  the  English  bar. 
Such  Avords  as  “  hominy,”  “  chinquapin,”  and  “  cymling” 
are  of  Indian  origin. 

Among  the  portraits  presented  in  the  history  of  the 
Bolling  family  is  one  of  Eev.  Hugh  Blair,  from  Avhom 
sprang  Eev.  John  D.  Blair,  of  Eichmond  in  the  olden 
time,  whose  family  doubtless  Avere  founders  of  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  Church  in  Virginia,  and  have  been  so  identified 


*  The  portraits  of  Eichard  Eandolph,  Jr.,  and  of  his  wife,  Anne 
Meade,  are  identical  with  those  of  Colonel  George  Braxton  and  his  wife, 
Mary  (Blair)  Braxton. 


HISTORICAL  DATA  OF  THE  TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR.  81 


with  the  journalism  and  political  and  military  history  of 
our  country.  “  A  catalogue  raisonne,^’  the  author  adds,  “  of 
the  old  portraits  of  Virginia,  with  full  descriptions  of 
the  originals,  the  names  of  the  artists,  and  their  present 
locality,  Avould  be  a  valuable  contribution  to  our  histori¬ 
cal  literature.  The  period  of  the  Revolution  is  very  defi¬ 
cient  in  portraits.”  * 

The  Cobb’s  family  Bible  states  that  Elizabeth  (Blair, 
Bolling  secondly)  married  Mr.  Bland  and  died  April  22, 
1775.  John  Bolling  and  Elizabeth  (Blair)  Bolling  were 
the  great-great-grandparents  of  Mrs.  Alfred  Walton 
Fleming.  This  lady  has  one  son,  an  infant,  who  bears 
the  paternal  name. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HISTORICAL  DATA  OF  THE  TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR. 

In  1715,  in  the  assembly  which  met  under  George  III., 
among  the  delegates  was  James  Blair. 

In  1718  Commissary  Blair  prefers  charges  against 


*  During  the  colonial  period  in  Virginia  James  and  John  Blair,  Sr., 
attained  to  the  honors  so  sought  after,  viz.,  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Bur¬ 
gesses  ;  each  was  in  due  time  chosen  to  the  council,  and  then  became  presi¬ 
dent  of  the  body,  and  was  ex  officio  in  the  absence  of  the  royal  representa¬ 
tive  the  governor  of  the  colony.  Commissary  Blair  lived,  as  stated,  to 
the  age  of  eighty-eight,  but  he  was  horn  abroad.  President  Blair,  his 
nephew,  may  have  been  seventy,  but  not  more,  and  his  son.  Judge  John, 
was  only  sixty-eight  at  his  decease.  Thus,  the  inference  that  the  longest 
livers  are  those  born  abroad,  attained  to  manhood  on  their  native  soil, 
and  prospered  in  their  affairs.”  (See  ”  Memoir  :  Bolling  Family.”) 

In  this  volume,  which  contains  the  ancestral  tree  of  the  Bolling  family, 
is  the  statement:  “Fourth  in  descent  from  Pocahontas  came  John  Bol¬ 
ling,  member  of  the  House  of  Burgesses  ;  born  1700,  died  1757  ;  mar¬ 
ried,  August  1,  1728,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Dr.  Archibald  Blair  and 
niece  of  Commissary  James  Blair,  D.D.,  founder  of  AVilliam  and  Mary 
College.” 


82 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


Governoi'  Spottswood,  and  proved  more  than  the  latter’s 
match. 

In  1732  was  published  the  Williamsburg  Gazette. 

In  1747,  among  the  members  of  the  court  to  allow  Dr. 
Davies  a  license  to  preach  was  John  Blair.  He  favored 
it.  Peyton  Eandolph  opposed  the  dissenters.  John  Blair 
published  a  letter  concerning  the  separatists, — the  Bap¬ 
tists  and  other  dissenters, — favoring  their  cause,  while 
Archibald  Cai’y  persecuted  them. 

In  1758  Eobert  Dinwiddle,  governor  of  Virginia,  was 
succeeded  by  John  Blair,  president  of  the  council.* 

In  1764  John  Blair  was  president  of  the  council  of  Vir¬ 
ginia. 

In  1765  John  Blair,  Jr.,  was  of  the  committee  ap¬ 
pointed  to  examine  into  the  accounts  of  the  treasurer  of 
Virginia. 

In  1765  Arthur  Lee  and  Blair  were  medical  students  at 
the  University  of  Edinburgh.  The  former  wrote  “  Appeal 
to  the  People  of  Great  Britain.”  The  following  obituary 
is  given  of  the  early  death  of  the  latter  in  the  Gentleman’s 
Magazine  and  the  Williamsburg  Gazette.,  the  first  publica¬ 
tions  of  the  kind  in  the  Virginia  colony : 

“Williamsburg,  January  7,  1773. — On  Saturday,  the 
26th  of  December,  died,  at  Charlottesville,  in  the  thirty- 
second  year  of  his  age,  Dr.  James  Blair,  one  of  the  physi¬ 
cians  of  this  city.  To  an  extensive  knowledge  of  the  vari¬ 
ous  branches  of  literature  he  united  the  profoundest  skill 
in  his  profession ;  to  the  most  unlimited  freedom  of  in¬ 
quiry  he  joined  a  piety  rational,  manly,  and  sublime,  and 
by  his  example  demonstrated  the  possibility  of  supporting, 
at  the  same  time,  the  character  of  the  accurate  philosopher 
and  the  sincere  Christian.  Of  the  natural  rights  of  man¬ 
kind,  as  well  as  the  peculiar  privileges  of  his  native  coun- 


*  The  General  Catalogue  of  'William  and  Mary  College  records  as 
among  the  visitors  this  year  John  Blair,  Esq.,  Williamsburg,  president 
of  the  council. 


HISTORICAL  DATA  OF  THE  TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR.  83 


try,  he  was  an  able  and  intrepid  defender.  Ilis  senti¬ 
ments  concerning  civil  and  religious  liberty  were  clear, 
uniform,  and  consistent.  An  indexible  regard  to  justice 
manifested  itself  in  every  part  of  bis  conduct.  But  these 
awful  virtues  were  tempered  with  the  amiable  ones  of 
compassion,  humanity,  and  universal  benevolence.  Long 
will  his  death  be  lamented  and  his  memory  revered  by 
the  friends  of  learning,  liberty,  and  virtue. 

“  ‘ - Cui  pudor,  et  justitias  soror 

Incorrupta  fldes  nudaque  veritas, 

Quando  ullum  invenient  Pakem.’  ” 

The  Dr.  Blair  referred  to  in  the  obituary  quoted  was  the 
son  of  Dr.  Archibald  Blair,  and  is  referred  to  also  as  an 
alumnus  of  William  and  Mary  College  in  1720. 

In  1768  Francis  Fauquier,  lieutenant-governor  of  Vir¬ 
ginia,  died,  and  John  Blair  succeeded  him. 

In  1776  Patrick  Henry  was  elected  the  first  governor  of 
Virginia.  John  Blair  was  one  of  the  members  of  the 
council. 

“  Students  at  William  and  Mary  College — Profes¬ 
sor  AND  Visitor. — James  Blair,  D.D.,  president,  1692, 
commissary.  John  Blair,  Sr.,  1800,  visitor.  James  Blair, 
1720,  Williamsburg,  son  of  Dr.  A.  Blair.  John  Blair,  1720, 
judge  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  A.  Blair,  1826. 
E.  F.  Blair,  1843,  Eichmond,  Va.”  (See  Campbell’s  “  His¬ 
tory  of  Virginia.”) 

“The  Old  Powder  Magazine  at  Williamsburg  as  it 
WAS  IN  1890. — The  Colonial  Capital  Branch  of  the  Associ¬ 
ation  for  Preservation  of  Virginia  Antiquities  has  pur¬ 
chased  the  powder  magazine  at  Williamsburg.  This  oc¬ 
tagon  magazine,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  built  about  the 
year  1714  by  Sir  Alexander  Spottswood,  then  lieutenant- 
governor  of  the  colony  of  Virginia.  It  was  from  this  build¬ 
ing  that  Lord  Dunmore  caused  the  powder  to  be  removed 
and  clandestinely  in  the  night  carried  to  the  man-of-war 
Magdalen.*  This  act  of  perfidy  met  with  prompt  punish- 


*  Late  in  June,  1775,  the  Magdalen  sailed  from  York  River  with  Lady 
Dunmore  and  the  rest  of  the  governor’s  family  for  England.  The  Mag- 

6 


84 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


ment  at  the  hands  of  Patrick  Heniy,  who  required  for  the 
powder  immediate  and  full  compensation  in  money.  It 
will  thus  be  seen  that  the  old  powder  magazine  is  inti¬ 
mately  associated  with  three  of  Virginia’s  governors  and 
with  a  stirring  period  in  the  history  of  the  colony.  Its 
purchase  has  long  been  contemplated,  and  the  work  of 
repair  will  immediately  begin.  Prom  a  powder  magazine 
it  has  passed  through  many  changes,  once  a  Baptist  church, 
subsequently  a  dancing  school,  finally,  falling  to  the  lowest 
rung  of  the  ladder  of  fate,  it  was  converted  to  the  vile  uses 
of  a  stable.  It  is  now  proposed  to  make  it  a  museum  and 
the  repository  of  the  many  objects  of  interest  in  the  section 
in  which  it  is  located.” 

“  In  the  early  days  of  the  American  republic,  1789-95, 
there  were  two  political  parties.  The  Federalists,  with 
Washington  at  their  head,  desired  a  strong  central  gov¬ 
ernment,  to  command  respect  abroad  and  security  at  home. 
The  Bepuhlicans  (or  Democrats,  as  they  were  otten  called, 
the  two  names  having  nearly  the  same  meaning)  were 
friends  to  France  and  to  the  independent  sovereignty  of 
the  States ;  they  opposed  Jay’s  treaty  with  England,  the 
United  States  Bank,  and  constantly  sounded  the  alarm  of 
monarchy.”  (See  “  History  of  the  United  States,”  by  M. 
E.  Thalheimer.) 

History  records  the  fact  that  at  noon,  the  30th  day  of 
April,  1789,  when  George  Washington  took  the  oath  of 
office  as  chief  magistrate  of  the  new-born  republic,  pre¬ 
ceding  this  act  at  nine  o’clock  in  the  morning  in  all  the 
churches  of  the  city  of  Hew  York  prayer  was  made  for 
God’s  blessing  on  the  government  and  its  first  President. 
On  the  occasion  of  the  centennial  celebration  of  the  same 
event,  Benjamin  Harrison,  President  of  the  United  States, 
made  proclamation  that  “  on  April  30,  1889,  at  the  hour 
of  nine  o’clock,  the  people  of  the  entire  country  repair  to 
their  respective  places  of  divine  worship  to  implore  the 


dalen  was  convoyed  down  from  York  and  across  the  bay  by  the  Fowey. 
This  oft-mentioned  vessel  was  a  twenty-gun  man-of-war.  Shortly  after¬ 
wards  the  Fowey  was  relieved  by  the  Mercury  and  sailed  for  Boston. 


HISTORICAL  DATA  OF  THE  TIMES  OF  JAMES  BLAIR.  85 


favor  of  God,  that  the  blessings  of  liberty,  prosperity,  and 
peace  may  abide  with  us  as  a  people,  and  that  his  hand 
may  lead  us  in  the  paths  of  righteousness.”  Will  any  true 
citizen  of  the  United  States  fail  to  revere  the  memory  of 
John  Blair,  the  signer  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  which 
has  made  us  a  great  nation  ? 

In  an  admirable  article  published  by  the  United  States 
Bureau  of  Education,  “  The  College  of  William  and 
Mary,”  by  Herbert  B.  Adams,  Ph.D.,  it  is  stated  by  the 
distinguished  author  that 

“  Rev.  James  Blair,  of  Williamsburg,  gave  five  hundred 
pounds  towards  one  scholarship,  and  by  the  charter  he 
was  made  president  of  the  college  for  life.  Of  presidents 
appointed  from  1693  to  1889  there  have  been  seventeen. 
The  present  incumbent  is  Benjamin  S.  Ewell,  LL.D.,  a 
graduate  of  West  Point.  Tlie  salary  of  President  Blair 
was  originally  fixed  at  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  a 
year,  but  it  was  afterwards  cut  down  to  one  hundred 
pounds.” 

Professor  Adams,  quoting  from  a  good  description  of 
the  college  in  1724,  through  the  original  tract  on  the 
“Present  State  of  Virginia,”  by  Professor  Jones,  says, 
“  The  building  is  beautiful,  being  first  modelled  by  Sir 
Christopher  Wren,  and  is  not  unlike  Chelsea  Hospital.” 
Commenting  on  social  Williamsburg,  he  says  : 

“  At  the  Capitol  at  publick  times  may  be  seen  a  great 
number  of  handsome,  well-dress’d,  compleat  Gentlemen. 
And  at  the  Governor"  House,  upon  Birth-Xights  and  at 
Balls  and  Assemblies,  I  have  seen  as  fine  appearance,  as 
good  diversion,  and  as  splendid  entertainments  in  Gover¬ 
nor  Spottswood’s  time  as  I  have  seen  anywhere  else.” 

The  parson-professor  was  evidently  fiuniliar  with  the 
sights  and  scenes  of  old  England  as  well  as  with  the  best 
society  of  the  period.  Like  Chaucer,  he  had  seen  the 
world  as  in  his  time.  He  describes,  also,  the  public  build¬ 
ings  as  they  stood  in  1724  : 


86 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


“  In  each  wing  of  the  Capitol  is  a  good  stair  case,  one 
leading'  to  the  Council  Chamber,  where  the  Governor  and 
Council  sit  in  very  great  State,  in  imitation  of  the  King 
and  Council  or  the  Lord  Chancellor  and  Honse  of  Lords. 
Over  the  portico  is  a  large  room,  Avhere  conferences  are 
held  and  prayers  are  read  by  the  Chaplain  to  the  General 
Assembly.  Kot  far  from  Bruton  Church  is  the  market 
place,  near  which  is  a  Play-House  and  good  Bowling 
Green.  From  the  Church  northward  is  Palace  Street,  at 
the  end  of  Avhich  stands  the  Governor’s  house,  finished 
and  beautified  with  gates,  fine  gardens,  oflices,  walks,  a 
fine  canal,  orchards,  etc.  The  house  has  a  cupola  or 
‘  Lanthorn,’  which  is  illuminated  on  festival  nights,  to¬ 
gether  with  most  of  the  town.  These  buildings  here  de¬ 
scribed  are  justlj^  reputed  the  best  in  all  the  English 
America.  A  pleasant,  long,  dry  walk,  broad  and  almost 
level,  extends  from  the  College  to  the  Capitol.  Williams¬ 
burg  is  a  market  town,  well  stock’d  with  rich  stores  of  all 
sorts  of  goods  and  Avell  furnished  with  the  best  provisions 
and  liquors,  and  is  governed  by  a  mayor  and  aldermen. 
Here  clwell  several  very  good  families,  and  more  reside 
here  in  their  OAvn  houses  at  public  times.  They  live  in 
the  same  neat  manner,  dress  after  the  same  modes,  and 
behave  themselves  exactly  as  the  gentry  in  London,  most 
families  of  anj^'  note  having  a  coach,  chariot,  Berlin,  or 
chaise.  The  toAvn  is  laid  out  regularly  in  lots  sufiicient 
for  a  house  and  garden.  Thus  they  dwell  comfortably, 
genteelly,  pleasantly,  and  plentifully  in  this  delightful, 
healthful,  and,  I  hope,  thriving  city  of  Williamsburg.” 


CHAPTER  V. 

“MARY  BLAIR.” 

“  The  Belles  of  Old  Philadelphia,”  by  Charlotte  Adams, 
and  published  in  the  American  Magazine  for  April,  1888, 
says : 

“  The  lady,  Mary  Blair,  a  copy  of  whose  life-sized  por¬ 
trait  is  given,  Avas  born  at  Williamsburg,  Va.,  in  1734,  and 


MliS.  GEORGE  HRAXTON. 


“MARY  BLAIR.” 


87 


the  record  of  her  birth  is  still  preserved  by  her  descendant, 
Robert  L.  Horner,  in  the  family  Bible.  Her  first  husband 
was  Colonel  George  Braxton,  brother  to  Carter  Braxton, 
The  wedding  took  place  in  1753.  She  married  twice  after 
the  gallant  colonel  died,  and  her  oft-recurring  condition 
of  bridehood  is  very  properly  symbolized  by  the  white 
satin  and  pearls  in  which  she  has  come  down  to  posterity. 
The  portrait  was  enlarged  from  a  miniature,  it  is  said,  by 
a  London  artist.  And  we  take  the  liberty  of  believing 
that  only  colonial  art  could  have  handled  the  satin  folds 
of  that  wide-hooped  petticoat  in  so  thin  and  fiat  a  manner. 
Stitfer  even  than  nature  and  the  mantua-maker’s  art  have 
made  it  is  this  youthful  bride’s  figure  as  she  appears  in  her 
wedding  gown.  Georgian  fashions  are  not  wholly  respon¬ 
sible  for  the  enforced  solemnity  of  her  demeanor;  the 
limner’s  art  (or  lack  of  it)  counts  for  much  with  this  strait¬ 
laced  beauty. 

“  Although  a  Virginian,  she  has  as  good  a  claim  on 
Philadelphia  remembrance  as  the  best  of  the  Philadelphia 
ladies  of  the  Georgian  period.  Mrs.  George  Braxton  in 
her  white  satin  gown  and  pearls  looks  out  from  the  canvas 
open-eyed  with  wonder,  for  was  she  not  the  sister-in-law 
of  Carter  Braxton,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  ?  Her  father,  the  Honorable  John  Blair,  was 
nephew  of  that  Commissary  Blair  who  was  appointed  the 
first  to  such  office  by  the  bishop  of  London.  Commissary 
Blair  is  famous  as  the  man  who  petitioned  King  William 
and  Queen  Mary  to  grant  a  charter  for  a  college  in  Virginia, 
The  rerpiest  was  granted,  and  the  great  Sir  Christopher 
Wren  himself  deigned  to  design  the  buildings  in  which 
the  chivalrous  youth  of  colonial  Virginia  were  to  receive 
training  in  the  classics,” 

Maiy  Blair,  as  Mary  Burwell  by  right  of  a  second  mar¬ 
riage,  thus  writes  to  her  granddaughter,  Betsey  Whiting, 
nee  Braxton  : 

“  The  expenses  of  my  Plantation  has  been  so  great  that  at  present  I 
am  under  some  difficulties  and  makes  me  wish  to  throw  off  a  Burden  I 
have  long  found  too  heavy  for  my  shoulders.  I  never  found  home  more 
uncomfortable  than  now.  The  scarcity  of  corn  makes  scarcity  of  every¬ 
thing,  but  hope  it  will  mend  soon.  Near  15000  lb  Toba'  has  been  ex- 


88 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILAL 


pended  &  no  Tax  paid  &  105  £.  to  pay  M''  Brown®  store,  only  4  hdhs :  in 
hand  to  pay  all  with,  Something  is  always  to  happen  to  prevent  mj'  living 
easy  or  having  mucdi  in  my  power  but,  I  must  not  murmur,  but,  submit. 
If  my  Etl'ects  were  or  could  be  placed  in  sure  funds  I  w'^  not  Keep  a 
Plantation  to  plague  me  &  devour  Everything  that  goes  through  my 
hands.  Polly  has  just  come  to  ask  who  ’am  writing  to  ‘  oh,  she  says  give 
my  duty  to  her  and  Pappa  &  my  love  to  my  Brothers.’  She  is  very  saucy. 
She  came  to  me  to  day  to  know  if  I  won’*  please  to  have  a  dish  of  Fish 
caught  for  dinner  and  so  arch  she  looked  it  would  have  diverted  you.  In 
respect  to  the  money  you  had  of  yr  uncle  Braxton  [Carter]  don’t  you 
recollect  y'*  5.  pds.  he  sent  to  pay  for  yr  dancing,  &  M’’  Burwell  Borrowed 
it,  so  poor  Pherson  never  got  it.  I  could  wish  you  should  not  be  too 
hasty  in  writing  to  him  at  least  til  I  can  see  you  and  make  you  better 
acquainted  with  what  is  due  you.  I  enclose  the  Acet:  as  I  think  it  ought 
to  be  sef*.  I  must  add  a  charge  for  my  things  lost  &  abused  and  some 
other  things  they  must  pay  for.  I  wish  this  troublesome  Business  was 
once  ended  but  I  w'*  not  have  one  6  pence  given  up  more  than  is  their 
due.  If  M"'  Prank  Whiting  is  going  down  it  will  be  a  good  opportunity 
of  sending  our  Acets  :  and  getting  the  affair  settled. 

“  Blacksmith  Caeser  tells  me  the  man  that  has  his  wife  &  two  children 
(Boys)  will  give  the  three  for  a  lad  or  young  fellow  :  he  says  that  Gen¬ 
eral  Nelson  says  I  must  either  Buy  M'' Burwell®  right  in  him  or  sell  mine. 
I  wish  to  have  M’'  Whiting®  opinion  &  advice  as  to  both.  I  don’t  think 
I  could  buy  without  selling.  I  w'^  be  glad  M”  Whiting  could  be  here 
when  the  Gent“  were  here  but,  I  dont  know  the  exact  time  of  his  coming 
but  soon  I  suppose  now.  They  have  sold  three  of  the  carpenters  that  I 
had  the  same  right  in  :  ought  I  not  to  have  him  cheaper  for  that? 

“  Believe  me  :  yr  affect:  Parent 

“  M.  Burwell 

“  6*'’  June : 

“  My  lost  mare  has  got  home. 

“  Present  my  Comp^®  to  yr:  neighbours  of  my  acquaintance :  10  oc:  at 
night.” 

Data  presented  by  Mrs.  Eliza  Braxton  Whiting  in  a 
copy  of  “  Ladies’  Daily  Companion,”  1794,  a  diary  and 
fashion  plate  published  annually  in  London  for  the  court 
elite  at  home  and  abroad  : 

“  1.  Saturday  Sept :  27.  1734.  Mary  Blair,  Born  this  day  in  the  year 
1784  :  this  is  my  mother. 

“  2.  Thursday  Dec  ;  6  :  1763,  this  Day  in  the  year  1753  my  Father  and 
Mother  George  Braxton  and  Mary  Blair  was  united  in  holy  wedlock. 


“MARY  BLAIR.” 


89 


“3.  Tliursday  26:  Sept:  1754  their  first  child  Mary  Blair  Braxton 
born  and  died -  1756. 

“  4.  Friday,  Nov  :  28  1755,  their  second  daughter  Sarah  Braxton  born 
this  day  1756,  and  died  April  1756. 

“6.  Sunday  Sept:  21.  1757.  Mary  Braxton  the  second  of  the  name 
and  their  third  daughter  was  horn  this  day  1757  and  departed  this  life 
February  22“'*  1764. 

“6.  Feb:  3.  1759:  Eliza“*  Braxton  the  fourth  daughter  was  born  this 
Monday  Feb  :  3  :  1759.  [The  author’s  great-grandmother.] 

“  7.  Friday  ;  oct :  3  :  1761.  This  day  bereft  me  of  a  dear  Father  in  the 
year  1761.  aged  27  :  years  and  2  months. 

“  8.  Saturday  :  Dec  :  31.  1774.  This  day  was  married  Col :  R.  Burwell 
to  Mrs.  Geo:  Braxton.  1774. 

“  9.  Thursday  :  Jan  :  30  :  1777.  Departed  this  life  Col“  R.  Burwell,  aged 
56,  in  the  year  1777. 

“10.  Thursday:  Nov:  16:  1780,  were  united  Henry  Whiting  and 
Eliza  :  Braxton  in  the  year  1780. 

“  11.  Thursday  :  Aug  :  21.  1781.  This  day  George  Braxton  was  born 
in  the  year  1760,  and  departed  this  life  July  1781.  [The  author’s  great- 
great-grandfather.] 

“  12:  Saturday  :  Aug:  30  :  1781.  This  day  Mary  Blair  Whiting  my 
first  child  was  born  1781. 

“  13.  Sunday  :  June  8  :  1783.  This  day  1783  was  born  George  Braxton 
Whiting  my  first  son  and  second  child. 

“  14  :  Thursday  April  10:  1785:  was  born  Francis  Beverly  Whiting 
my  second  son  and  3“*  child. 

“  16.  Friday  Night  Oct :  28  :  1786.  This  ‘  memorable  Night,  Heaven 
took  to  itself  my  Henry.  He  was  buried  that  day  :  6  years  we  were  mar¬ 
ried.  His  age  was  37  (?)  it  was  to  be  remarked  my  mamma  and  self  were 
deprived  of  our  husbands  both  at  the  age  of  27,  and  both  had  the  same 
number  of  children  at  that  time. 

“  16.  Sunday:  April  3:  1792;  was  married  M’’  R.  Prescott  to  M"'® 
Burwell :  1792. 

“17.  Tuesday:  June  2:  1793:  was  buried  M”  R.  Prescott — a  man 
most  justly  esteemed  :  I  travelled  post  to  see  him,  but,  arrived  too  late. — 
Note  below  ; 

“18:  Friday  Feb:  28:  1799.  This  day  died  my  Aunt  Cary  in  the 
year  1799,  aged,  61. 

“  Note  above:  Tuesday  27 — This  day  died  M”  Prescott  aged  64,  in  the 
yr  :  1795,  in  him  I  lost  a  sincere  friend  I  think,  but,  all  things  happen  for 
the  best. 

“  Sunday  :  May  25 :  stage  hire  from  Williamsburg  to  Richmond  £3.0.0 

“  Thursday  May  29  :  From  Richmond  to  Fredericksburg  ;  stage 
Hire 


£3.3.0 


90 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILAL 


“  Friday  Ma}'  30;  Breakfast  at  the  Merry  Oaks  6. /I 

Dinner  at  Bowling  Green  9. /I 

“  Saturday  May  31.  From  Fredericksburg  to  Dumfries  in  the 

stage  27/1 

“  Expenses  at  Fredericksburg  3.  dollars. 

“  Dumfries  to  Fredericks;bg  16/6. 

“  ‘24/.  Stage  Hire  to  Richmond,  to  W^^burg 


24/ 

&  4.  8.6.  24/ — Expenses. 

30.  0.0.  Board. 

8.  8.0. 

42.16.6. 


“Thrift;  Planted  100.  Morelia  cherry  trees 

“  Tuesday  18;  1796  ;  Grafted  14.  of  M''  M  :  N.®  fine  cherry'®  and  8  of 
his  Pears.  A  dry  summer  and  all  died. 

“  Wealth.  Monday  Jan':  27  :  1800.  Bght :  at  the  Sale  in 
Winchester  1:  Coffee  Pot  £13.10.0. 

12.  Tea  Spoons  2.  8.0. 

One  Toaster  [now  in  possession  of  1  1110 

Mr.  F.  H.  Wyeth,  Philadelphia]  ) 

£17.  9.0. 


“  To  be  deducted  out  of  my  charge  for  keeping  the  Negroes : 

amt ;  Pork  £30.  6.0. 

“As  Nurse:  7.10.0. 


“  A  Sore  Breast.  2.  Spoonfulls  :  Linseed  oil.  3  :  Honey  mixed  over 
a  fire  and  thickened  with  flour  and  spread  on  leather,  sprinkle  a  Teaspoon- 
full  of  camphor  on  it. 

“  Books  for  Library  ;  A  genteel  set  of  Pope®  works  ;  Ditto  of  Swifl®: 
do.  Sterne®.  A  large  Bible  with  cuts;  a  set  of  Shackspear® :  Salmon® 
Geography;  Bells  British  Theatre:  The  Beauties  of  Poetry:  the  new 
Bath  Guide  :  Belesarius  by  M'  Marmontel,  member  of  the  French  Acad- 
amy  to  which  are  added  fragments  of  Moral  Philosophy  in  3  Essays  of 
Glory,  of  the  Great  &  of  Grandeur :  M.  Denon  thro  :  Sicily  and  Malta : 
Goldsmith®  History  of  Rome.  The  above  Books  I  wish  to  own  very  much 
if  I  was  able.” 


The  cuts,  fashionable  head-dresses  for  1793,  and  for  the 
British  fair  contributing  to  alleviate  the  distresses  of  war, 
in  the  “  Ladies’  Daily  Companion”  for  the  year  of  our 


“MARY  BLAIR.” 


91 


Lord  1794,  are  beautif'ully  executed,  excelling  somewhat 
such  as  are  given  now  in  fashion-plates  of  the  nineteenth 
century. 

In  a  note  the  writer  says,  “  Josephus  says  the  fruits 
growing  on  the  lake  of  Sodom,  though  of  a  heautiful  ap¬ 
pearance,  upon  being  gathered  moulder  to  dust.  Maun- 
drell  adds,  also,  ‘  On  the  shore  of  the  lake  we  found  a 
black  sort  of  pebble,  which,  being  held  in  the  flame  of  a 
candle,  soon  burns,  and  yields  a  smoke  of  an  intolerable 
stench.  It  has  this  property  that  it  loses  only  of  its  weight 
hut  not  of  its  hulk  by  burning.’  Strange,  if  true,  and 
why  not?” 

“  Cash  borrowed  of  Uncle  Blair  [.Judge  .John  Blair]  :  £8.6.0  Another 
time  £6.12.0.  15*’'  Sept:  1799.  £.14.18.0.  Bght  a  mare  and  colt  £36.  : 

sold  a  woman  (?  ?)  £70 :  received  cash  £30.  Took  Bond  £40.0. :  Paid 
Uncle  Cary  [Wilson  Miles  Cary,  Esq.]  a  debt  due  for  mama“  2“'*  mar¬ 
riage  [with  Colonel  R.  Burwcll]  for  writings  being  recorded  £6.0.0. 

“  Saturday  Sept :  6.  This  day  my  D*  Parent  [Mrs.  R.  Prescott]  had  a 
severe  chill  &  an  ague.  7“'  this  day  a  fever :  8““  this  day,  also,  but, 
slighter  :  8"'  this  day  again  still  slighter.  10“*  this  day  a  slight  chill  and 
high  fever:  IP*'  this  day  no  chill  but  slight  fever:  12*’'  this  day  a  fever 
&  total  loss  of  spirits  :  13”'  this  day  arrived  at  ‘  Enfield’  near  Aldie  Prince 
William  Co.  W  my  uncle  Cary — and  my  dear  Aunt  B  :  [Ann  Banister, 
wife  of  Colonel  John  Banister]  :  a  fever  again  :  this  day  a  little  better  : 
walked  with  help  in  the  D.  room  &  back,  but  very  sick  at  night :  15  :  this 
day  a  severe  chill  «&  high  fever:  16:  this,  also,  very  weak  »&  no  appetite  : 
17 :  this  day  too  weak  &  low  to  leave  her  bed  a  high  fever:  18”'  less  fever 
and  confined  to  her  bed  ;  very  sick 

“Sept  18”'  1799.  Bled  (?)  and  took  medicine:  19”'  Ill  indeed,  but 
refuses  to  take  anything.  20:  continuation  of  fever:  much  weak¬ 
ened  : 

“  Sept:  8”'  1799  :  Robert  for  £75.  0.0. 

Took  two  Horses  in  part  @  £65. 

received  in  Cash  the  rest  £  7.10. 

“  Xov  :  2  :  1796.  Planted  &  grafted  4C0 :  apple  Trees.” 

In  the  note-hook  of  the  Honorable  John  Blair,  secretary 
of  the  royal  council  and  twice  acting  governor  of  the  colony 
of  Virginia,  are  the  following  entries : 


92 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


Cr.  £.  s.  d. 

To  Cash  pd  :  Indian  "Will  0.  4.6. 

M*^  Carter  Braxton  “  “  lent  him  at 'W“"burg  D''  0.  7.6. 

!['■  Thom®  Swann  :  To  Cash  at  Billiards  0.17.3. 

M''  Sacville  Brewer  To  Cash  won  of  him  0.17.3. 

M“' John  Robinson  “  “  lent  him  1.  1.6. 

M"'  Charles  Carter  “  “  “  “  0.  2.6. 

July  1®‘  at  AVestover  1753. 

"W™  Byrd  Esqr.  To  Cash  won  at  Billiards  £139.15. 

“  ditto  at  'W’“®burg  19.  7. 

BalR  Due  £135.  7. 

£  s.d. 

Armistead  Burwell  Esqr  To  Cash  won  of  him  at  Tarpley®  4.  6.0. 

To  do  :  at  do  188.  2.6. 

Cr :  BaR  Due  76.  4.6. 

By  Cash  received  at  Leeds  Town  £23.18.0. 

“  “  at  Tarpley®  100.  0.0. 

“  “  at  AVetherburn®  &  Tarpley®  16.  4.0. 

Dr  M''  John  Blair  To  Cash  0.  6.3. 

Aug:  20'*'  1753  at  Brick  House  D® 

“  AI®  Burwell  Bassett  To  Cash  won  at  Back°  £1.10.0. 

“  To  Cash  in  Swap  of  a  Horse  6.  9.0. 

“  To  Cash  upon  Al®  Blair®  account  8.  7.6. 


The  index  presents  the  names :  Burwell,  Armistead, 
Wm.  Bjwd,  Esq.,  Johnson,  Philip;  Swann,  Thomson; 
Binger,  John;  Brewer,  Sacville;  Carter,  Charles;  Brooke, 
George;  Braxton,  Carter;  Brooke,  Humphrey;  Spots- 
wood,  John. 

“  Alemorandum  that  I  rec'^  Eleven  Pounds  seven  &  six  Pence  of  the 
Speaker  &  that  there  is  now  due  nine  shillings  tho’  I  gave  a  rec*  for  the 


Baker  Sam  pd  £15. 

1790 

Baker  pd  :  15. 

“  Alera*  of  Patents  for  Land 
R.  P.  832.  acres,  Greenbrier. 

R.  P.  1048.  acres  Greenbrier  City  4310 

R.  P.  1920.  “  Harrison  County  320 

R.  P.  710  “  Harrison  County  - 

Henry  Banks  320  acres  in  Botetourt  County.  4630” 


“MARY  BLAIR.” 


93 


“M”  Eliza:  Whiting  mem“  Janie  Kelly  ran  away  in  my  Debt  for 


Rent  £6.0.0. 

Land  Rents  for  1796. 


Miller  £20.0.0. 

Duff  12.0.0. 

Kelly  10.0.0. 


Negroes  hired  1796. 

2.  men  @  £18.  £36.  0.0. 

2.  women  @  6  &  6.  11.  0.0. 

a  Smith.  @.  20.  0.0. 

my  Dower  from  67.  0.0. 

22.  3.8. 

The  Balance  44.17.4. 


Negroes  that  are  mine  hired  1796. 
Men  £  18.  Will. 

“  18.  Bullrun  Lewis 
“  18.  Cymon 
AVomen  £  8  Sally 
“  6  Betty 
“  8  Nancy 
“  3  Rachel 

Little  Lucy  Patty  Little  Rachel 
Negroes  of  my  children®  hired  1796. 
Men:  £  18.  Great  Lewis 
“  18.  Little  Lewis 
JFomen  £  6.  Alse 

“  5.  Hannah 
Negroes,  7iot  hired. 

Great  Lunin  &  4  children. 


“  Taxable  Property  Given  in  by  M.  Prescott  apr*  y®  6“'  1797. 


1  White  Tithable 
15  Black  ditto 
4  under  16.  &  over  12. 

1.  Post  chaise 
12.  Horses.  Land. 

AVitness  Eliza  AVhiting 
“  March  the  1®'  1798.  Property 
this  day  in  Mary  Prescott®  hands. 
Taxable  this  year 
16.  Tithables.  1.  white  do 
4.  over  12  yrs  &  under  16. 

1.  Post  Chaise 
12.  Horses. 

China  Plates  E.  W.  21. 

Ditto  AI :  Prescott®  21. 

China  chocolate  cups  8. 

Ditto  saucers  ••  9. 

“  large  cups  &  saucers  3. 

China  Custard  cups  6. 

“  Collop  shells  7. 

Bowles  2. 

Lemon  Bowles  7. 


Lemon  T.  Cups  6. 

Knives  &  forks  out  12  each 

“  “  Locked  up  “  “ 

Alemor :  of  household  Linen 

Taken  Aug  :  1798. 

24  Large  Napkins 
12.  Small  “ 

11  Diaper  “ 

22  fine  Towels.  1.  lost. 

6.  cup  cloths 
“  knife 
18  Prs :  sheets 
25.  Table  cloths 
10.  Counterpins 
5  Bed  quilts 
12.  huckaback  towells 
3.  white  window  curtains 
April  the  19  :  1799. 

Queen  china  Plates  6. 

Pudding  dishes  8. 

China  dishes  13. 

AVedgewood  plates  22. 


“  Feby  the  12:  1805.  Sent  to  AP®  Scott  of  Fredericksburg  7J  lb  of  cot. 
ton  for  warp  of  counterpins,  &  9J  lb  of  filling.” 


94 


THE  BLAIR  FAMILY. 


In  connection  with  the  branch  of  the  Blair  family  of 
England,  descendants  of  Captain  and  Admiral  Thomp¬ 
son,  and  Elizabeth  Thompson,  nh  Blair,  the  author’s 

brother-in-law,  G.  Boss  Sherman,  H.  M.  S.  Durham,  Leith, 
Scotland,  writes  :  “  I  regret  my  efibrts  have  been  unsuc¬ 
cessful,  as  the  following  extract  from  letter  of  Geo.  R. 
Pilline,  Staffordshire  constabulary,  ‘  Police  office,  Lich¬ 
field,’  will  show :  ‘  In  reply  respecting  the  descendants  of 
Admiral  or  Captain  Thompson,  R.  H.,  I  have  caused 
careful  inquiry  to  be  made,  but  without  success.  I  have, 
also,  consulted  some  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  of  the  city, 
but  fail  to  trace  them.’  ” 


V 


COLONEL  JOHN  BANISTER 
(Signer  of  Articles  of  Confederation). 


part  nil. 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

SKETCH  OP  THE  LIFE  OF  JOHN  BANISTEK,  WITH  HIS 
WIFE’S  COKEESPONDENCE. 

N’otb. — The  first  time  the  name  of  Banister  occurs  on 
the  page  of  history  is  during  the  reign  of  Richard  III., 
King  of  England,  1484  : 

“  When  the  Duke  of  Buckingham  plotted  against  the 
wicked  ruler,  Bannister,  a  dependant  of  Buckingham’s, 
betrayed  his  master  to  the  sheriff  of  Shropshire,  who 
found  the  Duke  in  the  disguise  of  a  peasant  hid  in  an 
orchard  behind  Bannister’s  house.  He  was  taken  to  Lon¬ 
don  and  there  executed.”  (Goodrich’s  “  History  of  Eng¬ 
land.”) 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  the  son  of  an  eminent 
botanist,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  and  of  the  same  name, 
who  settled  in  Virginia  towards  the  close  of  the  seven¬ 
teenth  century,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  plants. 
In  one  of  his  botanical  excursions  near  the  falls  of  Roa¬ 
noke,  he  fell  and  was  killed.  As  a  naturalist  he  was 
esteemed  not  inferior  to  Bartram.  John  Banister,  the 
son,  was  educated  in  England,  and  bred  to  the  law  at  the 
Temple.  lie  resided  at  “  Battersea,”  near  Petersburg.* 
Battersea  is  reached  by  a  short  walk  a  mile  and  a  half 


*  “  The  Catalogue  of  the  College  of  William  and  Mary  from  its  Foun¬ 
dation  to  the  Present  Time,  1859,”  gives  as  among  the  students  of  this 
institution  the  following : 


95 


96 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


west  of  the  city  of  Petersburg,  via  one  of  the  principal 
streets  and  along  the  canal,  ornamented  by  elegant  shade 
trees  and  presenting  in  the  distance  a  fine,  picturesque 
country.  The  fields  are  devoted  to  horticultural  purposes. 
In  the  midst  of  superb  forest  trees  and  others  of  tropical 
origin,  magnolia,  laurel,  and  box,  and  well-tended  shrub¬ 
bery,  stands  the  ancient  mansion-house. 

The  walls  are  constructed  of  English  brick.  On  either 
side  of  a  spacious  hall  are  two  stairways,  handsome  suites 
of  rooms  suitable  for  parlors,  salons,  and  chambers,  Avith 
porticos  in  the  rear  overlooking  magnificent  grounds 
shaped  into  terrace,  glen,  and  fiower-gardens,  and  bathed 
by  the  lazy-fioAving  Appomattox  Eiver.  One  of  the  late 
owners  of  this  princely  estate.  Judge  May,  had  felled 
many  of  the  shade-trees  in  the  front  lawn,  and  had  the 
grounds  laid  out  in  a  garden.  The  green-house  and  barn 
are  almost  in  ruins,  though  the  present  proprietor,  Mr, 
Wright,  a  Pennsylvanian  by  birth,  has  made  many  re¬ 
pairs.  The  finish  of  the  several  apartments  of  the  dAvell- 
ing  displays  considerable  taste.  The  gildings  of  the 
marble  mantels,  though  a  century  old,  are  still  visible, 
and  altogether  this  relic  of  bygone  glory  might  be  coveted 
by  any  nobleman. 

After  Mr.  Banister  returned  from  England  he  Avas 
elected  a  burgess  of  the  assembly,  and  subsequently  be¬ 
came  a  distinguished  member  of  the  convention  of  1776. 
He  visited  the  headquarters  of  the  American  army  about 
the  time  of  the  battle  of  GlermantoAvn.  In  1778-79  he  was 


Robert  Banister,  1792,  Dinwiddie  County. 

J.  M.  Banister,  1803,  Williamsburg. 

Robert  S.  Banister,  1834,  Richmond. 

Monroe  Banister,  1836,  Amelia  County. 

H.  T.  Banister,  1842,  Amelia  County. 

The  author  deposited  in  the  library  of  the  Numismatic  and  Antiqua¬ 
rian  Society  of  Philadelphia  a  Latin  medical  thesis  by  Theodorick  Ban¬ 
ister,  alumnus  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland  (1806). 


(Ilesideiice  of  Colonel  John  Banister,  near  Petersburg,  Virginia). 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  JOHN  BANISTER.  97 


ill  Congress  at  York  and  at  Philadelphia,  and  in  Septem¬ 
ber  visited  headquarters  as  a  member  of  the  Committee 
of  Arrangements.  In  1781  he  was  made  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  cavalry  under  General  Lawson.  His  two  col- 
leasrues  in  command  were  Mercer  and  Monroe.  When 
Lawson’s  corps  was  disbanded  when  Leslie  retired  from 
Virginia,  Colonel  Banister’s  military  services  were  lost  to 
the  State.  During  the  invasions  of  Virginia  he  was,  how¬ 
ever,  actively  engaged  in  repelling  the  enemy.  As  the  pro¬ 
prietor  of  a  large  and  wealthy  estate  he  sutfered  repeated 
and  heavy  losses  from  the  depredations  of  the  British 
army.  At  one  time,  in  proof  of  his  exalted  patriotism,  it 
is  said  that  he  supplied  a  body  of  troops  on  their  way  to 
join  General  Greene’s  army  in  the  Southern  States  with 
blankets  at  his  own  expense,  and,  with  the  consent  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  had  his  valuable  flour-mills  at 
Battersea  converted  into  factories  for  the  manufacture  of 
powder  to  supply  the  army.  liev.  John  M.  Banister,  now 
resident  in  the  State  of  Alabama,  and  his  great-grandson, 
has  informed  the  author  that  a  miniature  likeness  of  him 
is  preserved  by  his  descendants  in  Amelia  County,  Va. 
Contemporary  writers  describe  him  as  a  gentleman  of  ex¬ 
cellent  and  well-cultivated  mind  and  reflned  manners. 
In  private  he  was  amiable  and  upright;  in  public,  gener¬ 
ous,  patriotic,  and  enlightened.  As  a  writer  he  may  be 
ranked  with  the  first  of  his  day.  Ilis  letters  are  published 
in  the  “  Bland  Papers”  and  in  Sparks’s  “  Revolutionary 
Correspondence  of  Washington.” 

Campbell’s  “  History  of  ALrginia”  says  : 

“  Colonel  Banister  first  married  Miss  Patsey  Bland, 
daughter  of  Theodorick  Bland.  His  second  wife  was 
Anna  Blair,  daughter  of  John  Blair,  president  of  the 
council  of  the  colony  of  Virginia,  and  sister  of  John 
Blair,  judge  of  the  Federal  Court.  Theodorick  Blair 
Banister,  their  son,  married  Signora  Tabb.  John  ^lonro 


98 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


Banister,  tlieir  second  son,  married  Mary  B.  Bolling.  Of 
the  family  of  the  first  son  who  survive  in  1856  are  Monro, 
Tudor,  Yelverton,  and  two  daughters.  Of  the  second 
son’s  family  are  William  C.  Banister  and  Eev.  John 
Monro  Banister  and  three  daughters.” 

When  in  Congress  Colonel  Banister  had  the  honor  to 
subscribe  to  the  famous  “  Articles  of  Confederation  and 
Perpetual  Union”  solemnly  agreed  to  by  the  representa¬ 
tives  of  fourteen  sovereign  States,  July  8,  1778.  In  this 
important  agreement  it  was  declared  in  effect  as  follows : 

“  The  style  of  this  Confederacy  shall  he  ‘  The  United 
States  of  America;’  that  the  said  States  hereby  enter  into 
a  firm  league  of  friendship  with  each  other  for  the  security 
of  their  liberties  and  their  mutual  and  general  welfare. 

“  Uo  State,  without  the  consent  of  the  United  States  in 
Congress  assembled,  shall  enter  into  any  confederation, 
alliance,  or  treaty  with  any  State,  nor  shall  the  United 
States  in  Congress  assembled  grant  any  title  of  nobility. 
Yo  State  shall  engage  in  any  war  without  the  consent  of 
the  United  States  in  Congress  assembled,  nor  grant  com¬ 
missions  to  any  vessels-of-war. 

“  The  United  States  in  Congress  assembled  shall  have 
the  exclusive  power  of  determining  on  peace  and  war,  of 
sending  ambassadors,  entering  into  treaties  and  alliances, 
establishing  courts,  regulating  the  value  of  coin,  and  of 
making  rules  for  the  government  of  the  land  and  naval 
forces,  and  directing  their  operations. 

“  And  we  do  further  solemnly  plight  the  faith  of  our 
respective  constituents  that  they  shall  abide  by  the  deter¬ 
mination  of  the  United  States  in  all  questions  which  by  the 
said  confederation  are  submitted  to  them,  and  that  the  arti¬ 
cles  thereof  shall  be  inviolably  observed  by  the  States  we  re¬ 
spectively  represent,  aud  that  the  Union  shall  be  perpetual. 

“  Done  in  the  third  year  of  the  independence  of  America 
at  Philadelphia  the  9tli  day  of  July,  1778.” 

Unlike  the  clergy  and  placemen,  many  of  whom  were 
landed  proprietors,  adherents  of  the  British  government, 
and  held  control  of  the  legislature.  Colonel  Banister  was 
prompt  to  espouse  the  cause  of  liberty.  The  plan  of  Pey- 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  JOHN  BANISTER.  99 

ton  Eandolph  to  establish  a  bank  at  that  time  was  unpop¬ 
ular,  and  was  denounced  bj  Patrick  Henry  as  “  a  scheme 
to  reclaim  the  spendthrift  from  his  dissipation  and  extrav¬ 
agance  by  filling  his  pockets  with  money.”  That  which 
made  matters  worse  during  ante-colonial  times  was  that 
the  officials  of  England  usually  brought  with  them  the 
frivolous  tastes  and  dissipated  habits  of  men  of  fashion  and 
of  courtiers  addicted  to  gaming,  whose  example  diffused 
a  rage  for  play.  An  important  measure  was  urged  upon 
the  assembly  of  Virginia  by  Jefferson  and  supported  by 
Colonel  Banister  to  emancipate  the  slaves  in  Virginia,  but 
it  proved  unsuccessful. 

In  May,  1778,  Congress  received  despatches  containing 
the  important  news  of  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  between 
the  king  of  France  and  the  United  States.  During  the 
progress  of  the  war  in  1780,  when  Arnold  invaded  Virginia, 
a  body  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  men  under  Phillips 
landed  at  City  Point,  and  on  the  next  morning  marched 
upon  Petersburg  by  way  of  Colonel  Banister’s  Whitehall 
plantation,  where  they  halted  in  the  heat  of  the  day  (April 
23)  and  refreshed  themselves. 

Colonel  Banister  with  Byrd  had  the  honor  to  lay  out 
the  two  neighboring  cities  of  Richmond  and  Petersburg, 
the  latter  being  located  in  1783  in  the  county  of  Dinwid- 
die.  Subsequently  to  the  war  the  Marquis  de  Chastellux, 
a  distinguished  French  traveller,  becaane  the  guest  of 
Colonel  Banister  at  Battersea.  In  1777  the  latter  was 
elected  a  visitor  from  Dinwiddie  to  William  and  Mary 
College.  Of  his  descendants  and  family  who  have  been 
students  at  that  college  were  Robert  Banister  in  1792 ; 
Hathaniel  Banister  in  1795 ;  J.  M.  Banister,  Williams¬ 
burg,  1803;  R.  S.  Banister,  Richmond,  1834;  Monroe 
Banister,  Amelia,  1836;  H.  T.  Banister,  Amelia,  1842. 
Rev.  J.  M.  Banister,  of  Alabama,  July  4,  1869,  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  D.D. 


100 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


Colonel  Banister  was  a  delegate  to  the  Virginia  con¬ 
vention  wdiicli  reorganized  the  Episcopal  Church.  He 
represented  the  Dinwiddie  Parish.  This  parish  could  not 
have  been  very  flourishing.  Rev.  Mr.  Jarrett,  in  his 
autobiography,  wrote : 

“  From  my  predecessors  the  people  had  heard  little  else 
but  morality  and  smooth  harangues,  in  no  wise  calculated 
to  disturb  their  carnal  repose  or  to  awaken  any  one  to  a 
sense  of  guilt  and  danger.  They  would  say,  ‘  We  never 
heard  before  this  man  of  conversion,  the  new  birth,  etc. 
Our  ministers  never  said  anything  against  civil  mirth, 
such  as  dancing.’  ” 

Colonel  Banister  contributed  to  revive  the  church  in 
his  native  State.  He  died  in  1787,  and  is  buried  in  Din¬ 
widdie  County.  A  small  stream  in  Halifax  County  bears 
his  name. 


CHAPTER  H. 

LETTERS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE  OF  THE  BANISTER 
FAMILAL 


“July  1790. 

“  I  am  sure  you  will  be  pleased  to  hear  my  boys  are  well  and  tolerably 
diligent  in  their  Books — the  eldest  particularly,  the  jmungest  is  of  a  wild 
playful  disposition.  Their  consequence  is  greatly  increased  of  late  by  be¬ 
coming  Collegians.  They  both  desire  their  love  to  you  and  their  Cousins 
with  expressions  of  anxiety  to  be  better  acquainted.  Your  Aunt  Cary  is 
at  present  with  us.  She  has  enjoined  me  to  give  her  love  to  you,  and 
hopes  you  will  excuse  her  writing  by  M’'  B  :  who  sets  out  in  an  hours  time 
(sooner  than  we  expected)  as  I  tho‘  he  intended  to  [go  to]  Gloucester  first 
and  was  told  he  was  in  this  town.  Your  Uncle  Blair  &  his  son  are  well, 
but  not  so  his  wife,  tho :  she  keeps  about  and  as  usual  is  careful  and 
troubled  about  many  things.  She  is  greatly  afflicted  with  the  cholic  looks 
very  yellow  at  times  and  there  are  some  apprehensions  of  her  liver  being 
affected.  By  your  letter  to  my  Sister  Cary  you  have  a  numerous  family 
in  Turkeys.  I  hope  you  may  be  lucky  enough  to  raise  them  as  they  will 
make  some  addition  to  the  purse  besides  good  eating. 


LETTERS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE. 


101 


“  By  letters  from  j'our  Aunt  Thompson  dated  in  February  last  she  was 
well  but,  rather  low  in  spirits  having  just  lost  her  youngest  daughter  with 
the  chincough.  Helen  and  Alfred  were  then  ill  with  it  and  what  will 
surprise  you  Capi“  Thompson  had  just  recover’d  it  and  was  so  ill  with  it 
that  my  Sis''  says  he  fell  to  all  appearance  dead.  She  begs  to  be  most 
affectionately  remembered  to  you  and  yours. 

“I  know  my  Betsey  is  interested  in  all  that  concerns  her  Aunt  and 
therefore  will  not  omit  to  acquaint  her.  Battersea  and  the  Mills  are 
leased  for  £1000  per  annum  which  with  the  amount  of  the  sales  that  have 
been  made  the  Executors  inform  me,  they  shall  be  enabled  to  pay  off  all 
the  debts  and  have  the  amount  of  the  above  places  (which  must  be  sold 
when  Rob'  Banister  comes  of  age)  in  reserve  for  the  Boys,  though  you 
are  to  observe  tis  liable  to  my  Dower.  The  thirds  of  these  (and  two 
other  valuable  plantations)  will  I  think  enable  me  to  live  very  comfort¬ 
ably  in  this  cheap  place  &  the  Market  is  particularly  so.  Say  something 
to  the  Boys  expressive  of  my  love  for  them.  Let  them  always  be  taught 
to  know  there  is  in  existence  such  a  Being  as  theirs  and  your  ever  affec¬ 
tionate  Aunt 

“A.  Banister.” 

The  above  letter  in  envelope  is  addressed,  as  all  of  Mrs. 
Colonel  Banister’s  letters,  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Whiting. 

“April  6'“  1797. 

“  I  have  this  moment  return’d  from  a  melancholy  visit  to  the  unfortu¬ 
nate  M''®  Hubard  who  add  to  all  her  woes  had  her  house  yesterday  after¬ 
noon  consumed  by  fire.  Her  furniture  saved  from  the  flames,  but  broken 
to  pieces.  Fanny  was  to  have  been  married  to  day  to  a  M''  Sinclair — a 
very  worthy  young  man,  but  she  is  ill  at  M'  Hunt®,  quite  delerious  I  am 
told — part  of  the  few  cloaths  they  possess’d  stolen  or  burnt — but  the 
worthy  inhabitants  (Heaven  make  them  ample  amends)  have  already 
subscribed  for  their  relief  600  dollars — and  it  is  intended  the  Ladies  are 
to  make  a  collection  of  necessary  apparal  for  them.  Our  dear  relatives 
are  in  general  pretty  well,  not  so  tho :  our  good  Sister  Cary  whose  feet 
and  ancles  are  so  much  swell’d  as  to  make  them  apprehensive  of  a  Dropsy. 
M'  Tucker  has  postponed  his  journey  till  the  day  after  to  morrow — when 
this  must  away.  The  late  accts  of  our  dear  Sister  Thompson — her  last 
speaks  of  her  declining  health  for  which  she  has  been  to  Bath — but  with¬ 
out  finding  benefit  from  it.  She  speaks  of  the  dearness  of  living — inso¬ 
much  the}'  had  put  down  many  superfluities — one  tho:  I  think  they 
ought  to  continue  as  essentially  necessary  both  for  her  &  her  Husband. 
I  mean  wine  w’’*'  she  regrets  for  him  as  what  he  had  always  been  accus¬ 
tom’d  to  (so  I  am  sure  was  she).  I  long  (yet  fear)  to  hear  from  that 
quarter.  M''®  Tazewell  has  had  unfavorable  accounts  of  her  son  Wil- 


102 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


liam  ;  he  has  undergone  two  or  three  operations  for  a  fistula  and  wo*  have 
died  but  for  good  M'®  Field  who  took  him  to  her  house  and  did  all  she 
could  for  his  comfort  and  relief.  I  refer  you  to  B.  Whiting®  lef^  for  oc¬ 
currences  from  hence  to  w®**  she  may  be  told  that  M”  Hunt  is  shortly  to 
marry  Capt“  Barton.  Son  Theodorick  begs  his  love  and  best  wishes  to 
you.  God  bless  and  preserve  my  dear  Sister,  shall  be  among  the  latest 
prayers  of  her 

“  ever  afiectionate 

“  A.  Banister.” 

“N.B.  A  letter  from  Ceeley  says  our  Sis''  is  in  a  Dropsy,  tho :  the 
swelling  has  not  extended  more  than  half  way  up  the  leg  ;  it  is  bro‘  on 
the  Doctor  thinks  from  leading  too  sedentary  a  life.  The  swelling  is 
somewhat  assuaged  since  using  his  prescription.  She  has  very  depress’d 
spirits.  I  shall  go  down  very  soon.  M”  Cary  has  just  receiv*  a  lef  from 
Capt"  Thompson  saying  his  family  was  much  as  usual,  his  daughter 
Sarah  is  going  to  be  married  to  a  very  genteel  young  gentleman  in  the 
Army  and  with  a  genteel  fortune.  Norbonne  is  again  in  command  of 
a  sloop  of  war  wch  Lord  Spencer  says  is  to  lead  the  way  to  a  higher 
preferment.  Polly  Peachy  and  hers  are  well.  She  had  a  nervous  fever 
in  Nov''  last  w"*'  bro*  on  a  premature  delivery  of  a  daughter — it  died — 
and  so  very  nearly  had  she  but  God  be  praised  I  she  is  perfectly  recovered 
and  was  lately  down  on  a  visit  to  her  Parents  looking  better  than  before 
her  illness  “  ever  yours 

“A.  B.” 

The  above  letter  is  written  to  Mrs.  Banister’s  sister,  Mrs 
Braxton. 

“  Ceelkys  March  20"'  1799. 

“  My  dear  niece  has  long  ere  this  received  news  of  the  mournful  event 
of  the  last  day  of  Febr?  Such  a  departure  was  truly  to  be  envied.  Death 
had  no  terror  for  her — and  she  met  him  with  that  complacency  she  had 
been  accustomed  to  meet  her  friends — her  dying  lips  blessed  us  all.  She 
was  intered  at  Eichneck  where  our  Relations  from  W^^burg  met  us  on  the 
melancholy  occasion — M'  Cary  good  Man  1  leaves  nothing  that  can  show 
respect  for  her  memory  undone — regrets  her  loss  more  at  this  juncture 
than  if  it  happened  Some  few  years  ago  when  his  circumstances  were 
under  great  embarrassment — but  now,  they  are  brightened  and  he  had  it 
more  in  his  power  to  contribute  to  her  happiness,  yet  how  little  in  com¬ 
parison  to  what  she  at  present  enjoys  were  all  that  could  be  done  here. 
Last  night  M'  Cary  put  in  my  hands  with  the  big  tear  dropping  on  his 
cheek  your  let”  (just  receiv*)  to  the  departed  dated  the  18"'  of  Feb:^ — in¬ 
deed  my  dear  Betsey  my  heart  is  almost  broken  with  the  picture  of  yours 
&  beloved  Sister®  Sufferings  !  Would  I  had  one  ray  of  comfort — alas  !  I 
have  none,  but  fervently  will  I  petition  Heaven  to  look  with  the  eye  of 


LETTERS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE. 


103 


pity  on  you  and  to  aid  you  in  your  arduous  task — feign  would  I  offer  my 
feeble  services  could  I  tell  how  to  get  to  you.  That  however,  is  impos¬ 
sible  until  sometime  in  the  Summer  when  Cary  visits  his  Daughter 
Fairfax  ;  at  which  I  have  promised  to  accompany  him,  partly  with  a  view 
of  taking  Enfield  in  my  way — if  the  dear  Sufferer  then  lives  (which  I  am 
far  from  wishing  so  circumstanced)  I  will  not  omit  some  Hartshorne 
shavings,  or  if  a  possible  chance  falls  in  my  way  much  sooner,  for  oh  !  it 
adds  much  to  my  distress  that  I  have  it  not  in  my  power  to  render  services 
where  affection  and  inciination  so  strongly  prompt.  Do  none  of  the 
neighbors  assist  you  ?  I  hope  they  do  for  their  sakes  as  well  as  yours — it 
may  a  short  time  hence  be  their  own  situation  and  how  expressly  are  wo 
told  to  help  one  another.  M''  AVhiting  now  (or  any  who  kill  meats)  I 
should  think  wou’d  readily  spare  his  feet  for  Jellies :  be  not  scrupulous 
my  Dear  to  make  that  want  known  to  them.  My  poor  dear  Sister  make 
her  sensible  (if  possible)  of  my  tenderest  sympathy,  and  very  sincere  love 
for  her.  Tours  is  my  Betsey  ‘a  righteous  cause,’  and  He  who  we  are 
assured  sees  all  things  will  reward  you  hereafter.  That  you  hear  so  sel¬ 
dom  from  us  is  another  Source  of  distress — for  myself  I  take  shame  in 
saying  this  is  the  first  time  of  writing  since  my  return  from  the  North¬ 
ward,  but  I  loved  you  not  the  less,  nor  was  it  by  any  means  intentional — 
a  variety  of  circumstances  (not  to  be  related  now)  conspired  from  time  to 
time  to  make  me  procrastinate  in  what  was  always  to  be  &  yet  never  done. 
Mary  Andrews  and  Charlotte  Balfour  have  written  several  times.  I  have 
Let:  ®  from  Litchfield  of  a  late  date,  all  well  in  that  quarter,  but  poor 
Mary  T.  whose  situation  and  jmur  Mary®  are  exactly  alike,  except  that 
she  grieves  herself  sick.  I  have  to  write  to  day  to  B.  Fairfax.  My  Sis¬ 
ter  Thompson  is  greatly  concerned  for  the  Situation  of  her  friends  at  En¬ 
field.  I  have  been  from  W“®burg  since  early  in  Jan^.  By  letters  from 
Jenny  Henderson  and  Mary  Andrews  were  well.  Son  Theodorick®  trip 
to  the  Northward  was  of  great  service  to  his  health,  and  good  looks.  He 
has  just  begun  the  study  of  Physick,  and  Son  Monro,  I  fixed  at  Prince¬ 
ton  College  where  I  have  pleasure  in  telling  you  he  is  highly  esteemed 
both  by  Masters  and  Fellow  Students,  particular  were  his  inquiries  after 
you  and  yours  and  often  begs  his  affectionate  remembrance  to  the  whole 
of  yr:  family,  as  does  now  the  whole  of  this.  Jenny  Cary  was  preparing 
previous  to  the  death  of  my  Sister  to  Settle  in  W“®burg.  M’’  Cary  will 
now  do  the  Same,  and  I  have  to  look  another  house  and  move  thereto,  'ere 
I  can  go  up  the  Country.  Polly  Peachy  who  went  home  about  a  fortnight 
since  desired  when  I  wrote  you  to  present  her  with  the  warmest  affections. 

“  Your  account  of  j'our  Sons  is  highly  jJeasing,  long  may  you  all  live 
the  mutual  comfort  of  each  other.  Tell  my  Polly  I  regret  that  Dame 
Fortune  deals  so  scantily  by  those  whose  merits  deserve  her  bounty®; 
nevertheless  they  are  not  always  the  happiest  who  receives  most  of  her 
favors  and  I  trust  she  will  prove  that  it  is  to  be  found  without  the 


104 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


superfluities  of  life  the  necessaries  with  Content  are  the  grand  essentials 
— these  with  the  object  of  her  wishes  I  trust  will  be  hers,  and  will  ensure 
a  continual  feast. 

“  Manj'  pieces  are  written  on  the  death  of  yr  dear  Aunt  Carj’’,  one  alone 
I  shall  transcribe.  I  think  it  the  best — all  of  them  would  be  too  bulky  for 
the  post. 

“  ‘  Died  on  Thursday  the  28*’*  ult :  M*®  Sarah  Cary,  the  most  amiable 
and  respectable  wife  of  Wilson  M.  Cary  Esqr.  of  Ceeley'  near  Hampton 
who  through  a  long  period  graced  the  discharge  of  every  relative  duty  as 
a  wife,  a  Parent  a  Friend  and  Neighbor  with  that  dignified  ease  and 
polished  delicacy  of  exterior  deportment  which  adds  even  to  virtue  addi¬ 
tional  charms  and  which  admired  by  all  is  the  attainment  of  but  few. 
Supported  and  animated  by  the  encouraging  hopes  and  sublime  views 
which  Christianity  holds  out  and  assures  to  its  votaries  she  was  enabled 
to  nu'et  Death  not  as  the  King  of  Terrors  but  the  Harbinger  of  eternal 
joy  and  to  welcome  his  approach  with  that  complacent  and  softened  smile 
with  which  she  had  always  been  accustomed  to  meet  her  relatives  and 
friends  ;  and  which  so  genuine  and  true  was  its  impression  after  the  ties  of 
life  were  severed  still  beamed  forth  in  the  breathless  clay  and  seemed  with 
triumph  to  proclaim 

“  ‘  “  Oh  Death  where  is  thy  sting  oh  : 
grave  where  is  thy  victory.”  ’ 

“  May  God  Almighty  of  his  infinite  mercy  dear  Betsey  enable  you  to 
go  through  the  fatigue  of  your  benevolent  undertaking,  without  injury 
to  yourself  is  the  fervent  praj'er  of. 

“  Your  tenderly 
“  Alfect : 

“  Aunt  Banister. 

“  P.  S.  Jenny  Cary  insists  upon  my  adding  that  she  would  have  written 
you  had  she  met  a  private  conveyance  but  as  her  mother  generally  writes 
by  post,  she  considered  that  one  in  a  family  was  sufficient  thro :  that 
channel.” 

“Shannon  Hill 

“  August  16”*  1799. 

“Early  this  morn  was  handed  me  my  ever  Dear  Niece®  favor  by  her 
special  messenger.  I  am  sorry  after  you  have  so  kindly  taken  this  troub’® 
still  to  leave  you  in  uncertainty  respecting  the  wish*!  for  moment  when  we 
can  fondly  fold  each  other  in  our  arms,  for  believe  me  my  Betsey  your 
sufferings  supported  with  so  much  fortitude  and  your  uniform  tender  duty 
to  an  afflicted  Parent  so  steadily  adhered  to  has  raised  you  greatly— not 
only  in  the  partial  eyes  of  an  Aunt  who  loves  you  dearly,  but  in  those  of 
all  your  acquaintance.  One  consolation  awaits  you  in  the  arduous  task — 
the  acquital  of  your  own  conscience  &  approving  (nay  applauding)  friends — 
Said  I  one  consolation  ?  Surely  another  is  yourself  a  still  superior  nature 


LETTEES  AND  COERESPONDENCE. 


105 


(oh  how  infinitely  more  so  !)  the  knowledge  of  doing  the  will  of  our  Father, 
who  in  His  oton  good  time  will  not  fail  in  His  rewards.  Had  I  have  had 
the  command  of  a  carriage  I  would  not  have  passed  you,  nor  won'*  I  at 
any  rate  have  divided  my  stay  up  the  Country  so  unequally.  The  Colonel 
seems  highly  gratified  by  your  attention  desires  me  to  give  his  Love  and 
best  wishes  to  you  and  yours,  saying  that  it  was  impossible  to  fix  the  time 
for  visiting  you. 

“  We  dined  at  Fairfield  on  Wednesday  last.  I  shall  fix  with  the  good 
Dowager  Lady  Washington  the  time  of  going  to  Capt :  Bj’rd® — she  has 
promised  to  carry  me  tliere.  The  attention  from  that  quarter  has  ex¬ 
ceeded  my  expectation.  I  may  as  well  take  the  chance  of  seeing  as  many 
old  acquaintances  as  is  possible.  Yesterday  we  were  at  M’’  Bayler’.  I 
made  myself  sick  with  Ice  creams  water  melons  Plumbs  &c.  (so  has  M' 
Cary,  alas  !  so  much  frigidity  does  not  suit  us  old  folks,)  insomuch  I  am 
frequently  obliged  to  throw  the  pen  aside  and  repair  to  the  pillow.  M'' 
Cary  got  me  to  choose  a  fashionable  Bonnet  for  Polly  in  Richmond — tis 
of  straw  and  quite  the  tippy  M  Caesar  can  bring  it  safely  it  shall  forthwith 
be  sent,  otherwise  it  must  tarry  for  me — observe  the  Hair  must  be  drest 
to  make  it  becoming.  B.  Fairfax  and  myself  are  of  opinion  (in  submis¬ 
sion  to  your  judgement)  that  it  would  be  adviseable  (previous  to  M’’ 
Cary"  coming)  to  acquaint  my  beloved  Sister  with  the  death  of  her  Sister 
Cary.  She  will  perhaps  notice  his  being  in  black  and  may  ask  some 
questions  that  may  lead  to  a  discovery,  or,  wring  his  heart  by  a  painful 
deception.  Dear  Soul !  her  feelings  are  too  much  blunted  to  make  any 
great  impression  on  her  but  you  know  best.  Say  for  me  to  her  all  that  is 
tenderly  affectionate— so  desires  M''Cary.  Your  sweet  Boys  have  a  claim 
on  my  warmest  attachments.  They  possess  it ;  as  also  that  of  my  Boys  to 
you  and  them — not  a  syllable  have  I  heard  from  either  since  I  left  the 
old  City.  I  expect  Monro  in  Virginia  early  in  OcP;  Theo'‘  will  be  then 
settled  in  Rich'*  in  Chreegnan  and  Adams®  shop — a  year  or  two  hence  he 
goes  to  Scotland;  after  finishing  there  he  will  visit  his  friends  at  Litch¬ 
field  (perhaps  first)  this  is  looking  a  long  way  forwards.  Heaven  knows 
whether  I  shall  live  to  see  it.  I  left  D'^  Barrand  in  wretched  health, 
he  was  preparing  with  M’’  »&  M*®  Tucker  to  set  out  the  week  after  to  the 
Augusta  Springs.  The  Bishop  also  intended  there  and  so  I  believe  does 
M*®  Dunbar  who  ought  poor  soul  to  vary  the  scene  somewhere.  The  whole 
circle  of  acquaintances  (from  that  quarter)  charged  me  with  affectionate 
remembrances  to  you.  Pray  inform  me  whether  y*  dear  Mother  was  able 
to  enjoy  a  Lett'  from  my  Brother  &  how  she  receiv*  it  the  idea  that  it 
might  give  her  more  pain  than  pleasure  alone  prevented  mj'  writing  to 
her.  M'®  Washington  of  Fairfield  promised  to  have  conveyed  my  letter 
to  you  the  other  day  but  she  has  been  disappointed  and  it  is  still  in  her 
possession.  I  met  there  two  Miss  Whitings — your  Sisters  on  wh”  account 
I  pay’d  them  particular  attention.  I  find  they  and  these  good  folks  do 


106 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


not  visit — not  even  j'r  :  Brother  Frank  who  is  close  by.  Betsey  regrets  it, 
but  tis  not  her  fault  poor  thing  ! 

“I  heard  Poll  you  intend  to  enter  the  marriage  state  ere  the  cold 
weather  sets  in.  Blessings  on  you  in  all  states  are  among  the  devoutest 
of  m3"  wishes. 

“  Be  assured  of  the  ardent  affection  of  yours  to  the  end  of  the  Chapter. 

“  A.  Banister.” 

“Studley  Aug  1800. 

”  My  dear  Niece. 

”  Prom  this  place  I  wrote  3'ou  b3'  M''  Carter  Harrison.  I  have  been 
with  my  old  friend  M''®  Lyons  nearly  two  months,  but  am  just  on  the 
wing  for  Richmond,  from  thence  to  Petersburg  and  M''  Peachy®  when  I 
expect  Polly  to  accompany  me  to  the  old  City  also  Son  Monro  who  I  hope 
will  not  again  be  disappointed  in  visiting  Virginia.  I  was  3'esterday  on 
a  visit  to  M”  Pago  Col.  W“  Nelson®  daughter  Sally  Cary  where  I  learn'* 
her  Husband  M®  Chas  :  Page  was  to  set  out  to  morrow  for  the  Ridge.  I 
determined  (notwithstanding  this  is  my  last  day  here  and  company  in  the 
house)  to  avail  m3'self  of  so  direct  an  opportunity  to  acquaint  you  that 
Jenny  Henderson  added  another  son  to  her  famil3".  She  has  a  bad  cough  ; 
if  a  let®  I  expect  to  meet  in  Richmond  does  not  give  a  favorable  acct  of 
her  I  will  take  the  stage  and  go  straight  to  W“®burg.  Do  let  me  know 
when  it  will  possibly  be  in  your  power  to  come  down  the  Country — a  cir¬ 
cumstance  that  will  greatl3'  gratify  all  3"our  friends  and  none  more  so  than 

“  Tour  immutably  affec* : 

“  Aunt  B.” 

“  Wmsburg  July  17. 

“  To  Mrs  Braxton, 

“I  saw  M®  Fairfax  by  whom  we  had  the  pleasure  to  hear  from  my 
dear  and  long  absent  Sister,  and  enquired  when  he  shou'*  leave  town,  he 
answered  in  the  next  stage.  How  I  lament  my  Sister®  declining  to  come 
down  the  Country,  since  I  find  my  finances  too  low  to  enable  me  to  com¬ 
ply  w'ith  my  promise,  in  case  of  failure  on  your  part  think  better  of  it 
and  come  to  your  anxiously  expectant  friends.  I  am  truly  mortify'*,  as 
well  as  the  girls,  that  tis  not  in  our  power  to  indulge  our  wishes.  Sister 
Cary  regrets  not  writing.  My  sister  Blair®  love  to  you.  By  short  stages 
Sister  I  think  you  couP  yet  accomplish  this  journey  down  and  being  in  a 
good  Society  wou*  contribute  to  establish  a  health  So  deservedly  dear  to 
us  all. 

“  I  flatter  myself  that  if  I  am  paid  regularly  my  income  will  enable 
me  to  furnish  a  light  carriage  and  pair  when  I  may  visit  my  friends  with 
more  ease  and  less  expense  than  by  travelling  in  the  Stage.  What 
charming  spirits  Betsey  has.  M®®  John  Wormley  (who  saw  her  on  her 


LETTERS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE. 


107 


way  to  the  Southward  says  when  indisposed  Betsey  never  failed  to  prove 
her  best  cordial — that  lady  told  me  too  yr  maids  Hannah  and  Sail  Cooper 
had  got  offended  and  run  off — provoking  creatures  O  !  that  you  wou^ 
exert  yourself  to  live  in  this  town — then  in  distresses  you  wou'*  he  Sur¬ 
rounded  by  sympathizing  friends  who  daily  regret  your  absence  as  also 
yr  solitarj"^  Situation.  Polly  Peachy  and  her  Bairns  are  well,  they  are 
going  to  move  lower  down  the  country.  The  Boys  are  returned  from 
College.  IkP  E.  Randolph  and  family  set  out  to  morrow  for  N.  York. 
They  were  a  great  acquisition  to  this  place,  consequently  are  much 
regretted. 

“  Yours  faithfully 

“  A.  Banister.” 

<<  WMSBURa  Aug‘  lb***  1802. 

”  I  have  tried  my  ever  dear  Niece  to  fix  on  the  time  and  place  for  you 
to  meet  me.  Alas  1  how  falacious !  I  wrote  you  sometime  since  that  I 
expected  my  Theodorick  to  go  soon  to  Scotland  and  that  I  could  not  quit 
this  spot  until  he  did.  He  is  gone.  I  have  seen  him  perhaps  for  the  last 
time.  Nevertheless  there  is  no  sacrifice  that  I  would  not  make  for  the 
advantage  of  my  children  ;  he  sailed  the  5'*'  inst :  under  favorable 
auspices  in  the  Endymion — a  good  ship  and  agreeable  passengers  two 
respectable  acquaintances  particularly  of  his  Father®  and  mine.  Sure  I 
trust  you  will  unite  with  me  in  fervent  petitions  for  a  happy  voyage  to 
them.  To  you  and  yours  he  left  tender  and  affectionate  remembrance 
regreting  much  he  could  not  see  you  all  before  he  departed.  Monro 
accompanied  his  Brother  to  Norfolk  and  I  have  not  seen  him  since.  He 
wrote  for  more  money  and  promised  to  be  with  me  the  next  stage  since 
when  several  has  passed  and  I  can  onlj’  learn  he  is  somewhere  with  Miles 
King  at  a  little  seat  of  his  Fathei"®  near  Hampton.  He  has  never  had 
the  measles  now  very  prevalent  and  which  makes  me  apprehensive  he  is 
sick,  excuse  my  weakness  you  are  a  Parent.  Accept  my  congratulations 
to  Grand  Ma  on  the  happj"  arrival  of  Miss  Eliz:  Howe  Little.  Heaven 
long  preserve  to  you  this  sweet  little  Comforter.  I  long  more  than  ever 
to  be  with  you,  tlio’  I  cannot  raise  as  much  as  won'*  bear  my  expenses. 
All  that  M''  Rose  could  get  (by  great  exertions)  was  applied  to  the  use  of 
my  belov'*  Theodorick,  and  not  more  than  would  fix  him  genteelly.  1 
then  relied  on  a  friend  who  has  long  been  debtor  to  our  estate.  He  puts 
me  off  until  Nov’’.  ‘  Entre  nous’  this  said  friend  is  no  less  a  person  than 
Judge  Tucker,  who  this  year  has  had  particular  claims  on  him  ;  married 
his  Daughter  to  M”  Coulter,  fixing  his  son  at  Winchester  and  removing 
with  his  family  there  for  the  Summer  on  acet:  of  M”  T:®  ill  health.  I 
must  do  him  the  justice  to  add  he  knew  not  my  going  up  the  Country 
depended  on  his  assistance  or  sure  I  am  he  wouF  have  denyed  himself 
to  have  obliged  me — numberless  proofs  have  I  of  his  sincerity. 


108 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


“  If  I  live  to  next  Spring  I  will  venture  another  effort  to  get  to  you. 
The  Gar3-s  might  have  given  me  a  seat  in  their  carriage.  I  am  happy 
to  hear  your  Son  Little  is  in  such  good  business.  My  love  to  him  your 
Maiw  and  the  dear  Boys.  I  am  about  writing  your  Aunt  Thompson. 
I  am  sorry  Theod^^  going  was  too  late  to  admit  his  visiting  her  previous 
to  his  going  to  Edin®,  he  intends  it  in  the  Spring.  Monro  is  greatly  at¬ 
tached  to  3’our  Son  George,  and  for  no  other  reason  I  believe  wants  to 
study  Law  in  Winchester. 

“  I  have  heard  melancholy  accounts  of  poor  Betsey  Fairfax®  situation 
respecting  pecuniary  matters. 

“  I  remain  3'our  truly  affect:  Aunt  B:” 


“Oct:  25‘>»  1803. 

“  Mt  dearly  beloved  Niece, 

“  I  passed  last  winter  with  my  amiable  friend  M''®  Hamilton  (British 
Consul®  Lady)  in  Norfolk — hers  and  her  no  less  amiable  partners  good¬ 
ness  to  me  (but  more  particularly  to  my  Son  in  Scotland)  exceeds  the 
limits  of  a  letter  to  give  an  adequate  recital.  I  have  promised  return  to 
them  next  winter.*  I  would  feign  have  been  excused  from  staying  so 


*  G.  P.  E.  James,  the  prolific  English  novelist,  who  was  the  British 
consul  at  Norfolk  in  18o3,  thus  wrote  :  “  It  was  in  this  very  house  where 
I  reside  and  in  this  room  that  Tom  Moore  wrote  one  of  the  finest  of  his 
earlier  poems,  called  ‘  The  Lake  of  the  Dismal  Swamp.’  He  was  staying 
with  my  ancient  predecessor  in  office.  Colonel  Hamilton,  who  was  Brit¬ 
ish  consul  at  Norfolk  so  early  as  1803,  and  who  occupied  this  house  then 
and  four  years  afterwards,  when  the  unfortunate  affair  between  the 
Leopard  and  Chesapeake  occurred.  So  exasperated  were  the  people  here 
on  that  account  that  I  have  been  told  a  mob  trailed  the  British  flag  in 
the  dust  before  the  consulate,  and  but  for  the  genuine  respect  felt  for  Col¬ 
onel  Hamilton  by  all  classes,  he  would  have  suffered  personal  insult. 
This  makes  my  house  a  historic  relic;  and  it  is  also  a  sort  of  abandoned 
temple  of  the  Muses,  since  here  Tom  Moore  wrote  poetry  and  sang  some 
of  his  beautiful  songs  set  to  sweetest  melody  by  himself  accompanied  by 
the  spinnet.” 

Moore  remained  some  time  the  guest  of  Colonel  Hamilton,  “  whose 
house,’’ he  wrote,  “is  the  very  temple  of  hospitality.’’  The  poet  rode 
out  to  the  Dismal  Swamp  with  Colonel  Hamilton  and  penetrated  its  dark 
recesses  to  Drummond  Pond  in  its  centre,  and  he  became  much  interested 
in  a  popular  story  about  a  young  man  who  was  made  insane  by  the  death 
of  a  girl  whom  he  loved.  The  youth  insisted  that  she  was  not  dead,  but 
had  gone  to  the  Dismal  Swamp;  and  he  went  thither  in  search  of 


LETTERS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE. 


109 


long  this  season  for  several  reasons  one  that  it  prevented  me  from  coming 
to  you  last  Summer,  the  truth  is  I  see  so  much  genteel  company  that  I 
am  necessitated  to  launch  out  more  as  to  expenses  (for  I  must  keep  up 
the  Lady).  My  Son  Monro  expects  in  May  (when  he  becomes  of  age)  to 
get  a  Licence  for  practising  Law  ;  he  then  is  bent  on  visiting  the  new 
Countries  ;  Kentucky  he  must  go  to  as  there  will  he  a  dividend  of  Land 
in  which  he  and  his  Brother  are  sharers,  when  there  he  means  to  proceed 
on  to  Louisiana,  now  when  this  beloved  of  my  heart  is  to  leave  so  soon 
and  his  studies  will  not  permit  him  to  accompany  how  can  I  absent  my¬ 
self.  Polly  Peachy  is  at  present  with  her  daughters  at  Petersburg. 
They  are  in  high  frolicks  weddings  Races  and  Plays.  M"^  Cary  and 
Lady  are  not  yet  returned  from  their  summer®  excursion  to  Fluvanna 
Sally  Cary  went  with  them.  She  and  her  sister  Jane  are  very  pretty. 
Wilson  is  reading  law  with  M''  Edmund  Randolph  in  Richmond.  He 
is  a  sweet  youth  I  but  I  wish  that  he  was  not  with  so  many  Demo¬ 
crats,  he  has  been  drawn  in  one  scrape  by  them  for  wh<=''  he  has  been 
a  true  penitent.  The  Tuckers  are  at  Sir  Peyton  Skip  with®  when  I 
retur"^  to  the  old  City  after  my  trip  to  Norfolk  many  of  our  charm¬ 
ing  ne’bours  had  dispersed.  In  June  I  had  Let®  from  my  Son  and 
Sister.  Theo‘‘  has  not  as  yet  seen  his  Aunt,  he  takes  his  Degrees  in 
the  Spring  and  proceeds  then  to  Litchfield ;  afterwards  to  London 
and  (if  I  can  possibly)  then  to  Paris.  (M''  Rose  lies  at  death®  door  at 
Staunton  on  his  return  from  the  Springs) :  To  return  to  Theo'^he  speaks 
highly  of  Rob‘  Wilson  and  of  his  Aunt  Chisholm®  attention  to  him.  I 
suppose  you  knew  his  Father  was  defunct.  Theo'*  never  fails  to  mention 
you  &  all  the  family  particularly  his  friends  Little  and  George.  The  old 
Admiral  is  well,  surprizing  he  is  84  years.  She  has  three  Daughters 
married  Sarah  and  Alithea  have  married  men  of  fortune.  Mary  (the 
eldest)  has  an  amiable  Husband,  but  is  poor :  They  reside  with  her  Father 
and  Mother,  while  her  good  man  (who  has  command  of  a  fine  Ship  of 
war)  is  fighting  the  French.  I  hope  he  may  capture  some  rich  prizes, 
as  well  as  dear  Norbonne  who  too  is  engaged  in  the  same  business. 
Alfred  is  in  the  Artillery  and  was  expected  to  be  soon  promoted  ;  as  war 
has  since  been  declared  no  doubt  it  has  now  taken  place.  Helen  is  16 
years  of  age  taller  than  either  of  her  Sisters  tho :  not  so  handsome.  My 
Sister  expresses  much  affection  for  you.  Your  Son  Francis  I  find  has 
entered  the  Navy,  may  every  success  be  his,  and  I  cannot  but  say  I  am 
very  sanguine  on  the  occasion.  I  had  heard  previous  to  yours  of  M'^ 
George®  courtship,  and  altho:  Love  is  said  to  be  an  involuntary  passion 

her,  and  never  returned.  The  touching  story  excited  the  imagination  of 
Moore,  and  at  the  consulate  occupied  by  the  Hamiltons,  and  described 
as  “  a  plain,  old-fashioned  mansion  on  Main  Street,  he  wrote  the  poem 
alluded  to.” 


no 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


yet  I  tbink  it  would  have  been  as  well  to  have  had  a  less  susceptible 
Heart  for  some  few  years  to  come. 

“  Your  faithful  Aunt 

“  Banister.” 

“Oct:  15:  1805. 

*•  To  what  my  dearly  beloved  Niece  am  I  to  attribute  your  silence.  I 
fear  Autumn  has  visited  you  and  yours  with  sickness.  You  are  in  gen¬ 
eral  so  punctual  a  correspondent  that  (having  written  a  voluminous  epis¬ 
tle  soon  after  my  return  from  Norfolk),  I  have  too  much  cause  for  appre¬ 
hension.  I  have  to  announce  to  you  the  arrival  of  my  Theodorick  in  per¬ 
fect  health  :  you  who  know  the  feelings  of  a  Parent  need  not  be  told  what 
were  mine.  Well  I  am  assured  of  your  tender  sympathy  by  what  I  ex¬ 
perienced  on  the  arrival  of  your  Francis.  I  hope  he  dear  Fellow  has  since 
his  return  to  his  natal  place  perfectly  reestablished  his  health.  The  ship 
which  brought  my  son  was  destined  up  to  City  Point  his  baggage  (save  a 
few  things  he  bro‘  with  him)  being  still  on  board  obliged  him  to  go  to 
Petersburg  otherwise  Monro  won'*  have  come  down  and  given  me  the 
gratification  of  seeing  the  happy  meeting.  I  expect  them  both  here  on 
next  stage  day  after  this — did  they  know  to  whom  I  was  writing  how  cor¬ 
dially  won'!  they  unite  with  their  mother  in  sincere  love.  Let  yr :  sweet 
Grd :  Children  continue  to  prattle  my  name  it  will  help  to  pave  the  way 
to  our  better  acquaintance.  The  Harailtons  expect  to  sail  in  Dec"'  for 
England  as  soon  therefore  as  it  is  safe  to  go  to  Norfolk  (on  acct :  of  the 
Yellow  Fever)  I  shall  join  them  until  they  quit.  If  in  the  Summer  fol¬ 
lowing  I  can  raise  the  needful  I  will  be  with  you.  I  am  sorry  to  tell  you 
my  dear  and  only  Sister  was  an  exception  to  all  being  well  at  Litchfield, 
her  complaints  Theod*' assures  me  tho :  troublesome  are  not  dangerous. 
I  had  a  LeP  both  from  her  and  the  Admiral.  He  is  an  astonishing  man 
for  his  time  of  Life,  he  has  enter*  his  eighty  sixth  year  and  still  in  health 
and  cheerful.  My  Son  is  delighted  with  the  whole  family,  so  amiable 
agreeable  and  handsome  are  the  female  part  of  it.  Norbonno  still  with¬ 
out  a  ship  and  living  on  half  pay  with  Lord  Bentinck  and  the  promises  of 
great  men.  Alfred  he  did  not  see  being  in  Gibraltar  with  the  Army:  he 
is  first  Lieutenant  in  the  Royal  Artillery  and  is  (I  am  told)  a  very  fine 
young  man  :  my  Sister  expresses  much  affection  for  you  and  yours  she 
tenders  sincere  love  to  you  and  anxious  desires  for  the  happiness  of  each. 
Oh  !  she  was  so  good  (as  well  as  her  family)  to  my  Son  (if  possible)  I  love 
her  more  than  ever.  Her  regret  at  parting  and  cordial  reception  when  he 
first  went  to  Litchfield  equal*  that  of  my  own.  I  am  sorry  to  say  the  old 
City  is  very  sickly  this  fall.  M”  Andrews  and  GriflSn  Peachy  have  been 
exceedingly  ill — tho :  better  ihey  are  not  quite  well  yet.  I  gave  you  in 
my  late  letter  the  particulars  of  dear  Jane  Cary“  death.  Her  Mother  has 
gone  to  Albemarle.  Her  Sister  and  Brother  are  more  composed.  Wil- 


LETTERS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE. 


Ill 


son  is  married  to  Virginia  Randolph,  a  very  accomplished  Lady.  Sally 
is  betrothed  to  a  M''  Newson  student  in  law ;  of  shining  qualities  and  very 
respectable  tho  :  of  slender  Fortune — yet  with  such  talents  what  may  not 
be  expected  !  M'®  Cocke  and  the  Tazewell®  the  Skiparth®  and  Tucker*  and 

the  good  old  Cary®  are  not  yet  returned  from  their  Summer®  excursion.  I 
must  close. 

“  Affect :  your  Aunt  Banister.” 

“June  20*  1807. 

“  My  ever  dear  Niece. 

“Thro:  M''  Mason  (a  student  of  W™  and  Mary)  I  have  the  infinite 
pleasure  of  hearing  y''  son  George  has  contributed  to  your  felicity  by  his 
union  with  an  amiable  young  Lady  [Miss  Francis  Horner]  and  it  so 
highly  had  your  sanction  as  to  exhilirate  your  spirits  into  the  fond  belief 
of  having  lost  all  sickness.  Accept  my  cordial  congratulations  on  the  oc¬ 
casion  and  present  me  to  the  new  wedded  Pair  with  sincere  wishes  that 
every  bliss  the  state  is  capable  of  may  (thro  :  a  series  of  many  years)  be 
theirs.  The  Doctor,  his  Sweet  Rib  and  dear  Francis  all  have  a  claim  on 
[us]  for  their  participation  in  their  Brother®  happiness.  I  have  been  ill 
with  a  Pleurisy.  I  recovered  and  anticipated  the  pleasure  I  had  before 
promised  myself  when  I  was  threatened  with  a  more  serious  attack — a 
most  intense  headache.  I  hastened  to  apply  my  sovereign  remedy  cold 
water,  but  in  speaking  soon  after  found  a  difficulty  of  articulation  and  for¬ 
getfulness  of  names.  The  Doctor  confirmed  it  a  slight  paralytic,  in  two 
hours  being  copiously  bled  I  was  perfectly  relieved  and  with  other  neces¬ 
sary  precautions  have  had  no  return,  but  I  am  {>rohibited  the  use  of  the 
pen. 

u  21st 

“  I  have  so  much  to  say  Dear  I  scarce  know  where  to  begin  especially 
as  my  son  Theod''  when  he  left  me  enjoined  me  not  to  write  much.  I  have 
written  you  from  Norfolk  that  Monro®  marriage  to  Miss  P.  has  long 
since  been  done  away — even  after  tho  fixing  of  the  wedding  day — and 
he  is  now  engaged  to  another  who  ho  is  so  sincerely  attach"*  to  tnat  his 
prospect  for  happiness  bids  very  fair  :  the  amiable  Miss  P.  Bolling  (daugh¬ 
ter  of  M"^  Robert  B  :  by  his  first  wife)  has  with  the  full  consent  of  her 
Father  and  Grd  :  Jlother  engaged  to  unite  her  fate  with  his — to  use  his 
own  expression  he  says  ‘  ily  heart  will  have  its  content  so  absolute  that 
not  another  Comfort  like  to  it  can  succeed  in  unknown  fate.’  Now  judge 
you  for  me  by  the  reciprocity  of  your  oton  feelings.  Cou"*  we  each  dispose 
of  our  other  two  sons  our  hearts  would  certainly  \>q  replete  with  gratitude. 
I  have  the  j)leasure  to  say  that  mine  are  in  perfect  health,  and  desired 
their  affectionate  remembrances  to  you  &  yours.  I  know  less  of  our  rela¬ 
tives  in  Mecklenburg  than  of  those  in  England.  The  old  Admiral  &  his 
family  were  well  in  February  hist,  llis  two  sons  were  far  from  him. 
Norbonne  commands  the  Sea  Fencibles  in  Ireland  and  Alfred  1®‘  Lieu- 


112 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


tenant  in  the  Royal  Artillery  at  Gibraltar.  Your  Uncle  Cary  is  just  re¬ 
covering  a  severe  fall  from  his  horse  thank  God  no  bones  broke  tho  :  sadly 
bruised.  You  have  [heard]  that  Sally  Cary  is  married  to  M'' Newson  of 
Norfolk  and  has  a  son.  Wilson  Cary  has  married  Miss  Virginia  Randolph 
of  Tuckahoe,  has  a  son  called  Wilson  Mills,  Polly  Peach}’  who  married  M'' 
Tabb  by  the  premature  birth  of  a  child  has  been  reduced  to  Death®  door. 
She  has  perfectly  recovered.  1  cannot  forbear  exulting  to  you  that  my 
Theodoriek  was  instrumental  in  the  hands  of  Providence  to  prolong  a  life 
so  precious  to  us  all,  and  about  fixing  now  in  a  pleasant  situation  eight 
miles  from  Petersburg.  M''®  Tucker  bids  me  to  beg  you  to  come  down, 
and  she  will  turn  out  with  you  to  set  the  Town  to  rights.  She  has  mar¬ 
ried  her  daughter  to  one  of  the  most  sensible  best  informed  men  of  the  age 
(M''  Joseph  Cabell)  consequently  her  own  good  sense  will  enable  her  to 
estimate  his  value  in  a  proper  point  of  view.  M''®  Cary  senior  desires  to 
be  retained  in  your  memory.  At  all  events  dear  covie.  I  shall  be  with 
you  be  it  which  House  it  may.  My  worthy  Hamiltons  (who  I  left  in  March 
last)  desire  to  greet  you  as  an  old  acquaintance — such  you  appear  to  them, 
and  they  hold  all  dear  to  me  in  great  estimation.  Your  remembrances  to 
them  pleased  them  much.  Kiss  the  sweet  little  folks  for  me.  I  find  Papa 
thinks  my  name  sake  handsomest  because  she  has  black  eyes,  and  you  may 
tell  him  I  excuse  his  being  partial  to  Anna  Bannister.  I  have  long  lack'^ 
an  e  to  my  Christian  name,  because  it  was  prettiest.  So  I  beg  (as  a  fur¬ 
ther  compliment  to  me)  you  will  follow  the  example.  Tell  M‘'  L.  [Dr. 
Little]  that  I  am  pleased  with  the  grace  he  displays  in  submitting  so 
readily  to  the  government  of  his  '■fat  little  wife,’  it  sets  so  easy  that  I 
applaud  his  finishing  the  chapter  as  it  began.  Rest  assured  that  neither 
distance  of  time  or  place  can  ever  lessen  that  immutable  atfection  borne 
for  you  in  the  faithful  bosom  of 

“  Y^our  own  Aunt  B.” 


Address 


“June  24.  12J. 

“  Mrs  Eliza  :  Whiting 
“  Enfield 

“By  mail  “  Prince  William. 

“  to  Goshen 

t  £  ^ 

“  Petersburg, 

“Sept:  17“  1809. 

“I  have  lately  receiv*  my  ever  dear  Niece  Whiting’s  most  welcome 
favor  with  the  four  highly  valued  profiles.  Soon  after  my  return  from 
Goshen  (M""  Tabbs)  I  was  very  uncivilly  attacked  with  the  Ague  and  fever 
— this  after  two  severe  spells  of  another  nature  (from  w*':  I  was  barely 
recovered)  weakened  my  poor  old  shattered  carcase  insomuch  I  was  not 
equal  to  the  quill.  I  am  happy  to  tell  you  I  have  miss'!  my  troublesome 
companion,  and  by  removing  with  Son  Theodoriek®  family  to  a  healthy 


LETTERS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE. 


113 


little  spot  a  few  miles  from  Petersburg  I  feel  I  am  rallying  fast.  My 
sweet  Grand  Daughter  has  here  recovered  her  lost  flesh  but  came  greatly 
reduced.  Monro  and  his  wife  and  Child  have  lately  quited  in  pursuit  of 
health,  the  latter  from  being  a  fine  large  child  is  become  quite  emaciated. 
Tis  true  he  is  teething  but  I  attribute  much  to  the  place.  IND  Little  [Dr. 
Little]  will  coincide  with  me  as  it  made  him  determine  on  not  trying  it 
&g»,\n  perhaps  twas  what  they  call  a  seasonmg.  Whether  or  not  ray  sin¬ 
cere  good  wishes  will  ever  accompany  him.  I  am  concerned  to  find  you 
have  been  so  great  a  Sufferer  this  Summer  by  the  rheumatism.  Yours  and 
our  dear  Mary’s  Profiles  are  not  so  striking  to  me  at  first  as  the  two  sweet 
girls  are  from  recollection  of  what  their  Mother  was  when  a  Child.  I  am 
delighted  by  the  affectionate  disposition  of  my  darling  little  Nieces,  and 
thank  you  for  teachiiig  them  to  know  me.  George  &  Sady  seems  to  un¬ 
derstand  that  Text  of  “  Increase  and  multiply”  and  may  He  whose  com¬ 
mand  they  obey  long  Bless  and  Preserve  them  to  each  other.  I  Saw  a 
young  Lady  last  year  in  Norfolk  (whose  name  I  have  forgotten)  who 
spoke  highly  of  your  Daughter  in  Law.  I  hope  dear  Francis  Beverly 
in  his  pursuits  may  prove  equally  fortunate.  My  love  to  Mary.  She 
appears  to  be  a  Paragon  of  Industry  and  is  highly  deserving  of  all  Suc¬ 
cess.  My  Children  (as  I  still  call  them)  all  enjoined  me  to  be  pre.-ented 
to  you  and  yours  with  sincere  affections.  The  Doctor  &  Lady  say  that 
tis  ihoXr  full  intention  provided  they  keep  well  to  visit  you  in  next  Sum¬ 
mer,  and  I  shall  exert  myelf  to  join  them.  Polly  Tabb  desires  her  love 
to  you.  Her  Husband  is  daily  looked  for  being  on  his  return  from  the 
Ballston  Springs,  whither  bad  health  had  carried  him.  Old  Williams¬ 
burg  as  usual  is  almost  deserted  by  its  inhabitants  at  this  season.  The 
Carys  and  Peachys  have  gone.  M"'®  Madison  and  a  few  others  stood  their 
ground.  I  never  saw  the  former  so  fat.  She  really  looks  younger  than 
for  years  past.  She  has  lately  made  a  conquest  of  Judge  Griffin,  though 
he  is  doomed  to  despair.  Betsey  P  has  been  the  ton  this  winter  and  has 
had  some  offers,  which  her  friends  could  have  approved,  but  the  dear  one 
is  hard  to  please. 

“  Did  our  friends  in  the  old  City  know  to  whom  I  am  writing  how 
many  messages  would  be  sent.  I  mean  in  next  month  (if  please  God  we 
are  all  well)  to  accompany  my  two  sons  their  wives  and  sweet  Grd ;  Chil¬ 
dren  on  a  visit  to  the  place  of  nativity.  My  friends  are  anxious  to  be 
acquainted  with  my  daughters,  thence  they  return  home,  and  I  to  the 
dear  Hamilton®  in  Norfolk,  in  all  probability  for  the  last  time  as  they  talk 
certainly  of  going  to  England  in  next  Spring.  Best  wishes  for  the  felicity 
of  you  and  yours  and  which  can  only  cease  when  ceases  to  be  theirs  and — 
your  faithfully  affect. 

“  A.  Banister. 

“P.S.  This  is  a  specimen  of  Son  ilonro®  paper, — verj’  coarse  speci¬ 
men.  Ho  docs  not  dispose  of  is  us  quick  as  could  be  wished.  Adieu.” 


114 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


“  Clay  Hill  Mrs  Tabbs 
“  IN  Amelia 

“June  23^1  1810. 

“  Dear  Niece, 

“  Theod'‘®  wife  has  another  daughter.  Three  days  previously  she 
caught  the  measles  and  was  very  sick  for  a  few  days.  The  Infant  was 
born  very  full  of  it.  They  have  recovered.  1  find  Little  has  found 
out  the  way  for  a  Son  without  getting  any  advice  about  it.  I  trust  Fran¬ 
cis  will  shortly  enter  the  list  of  ‘  Increase  and  multiply,’ — it  being  a 
command  from  heaven.  My  Son  Monro  last  May  presented  me  with  a 
Son.  His  eldest  is  called  W“  Constable  after  his  friend  and  Patron. 

“Sunday  Morn  :  I  laid  aside  the  pen  to  repair  the  toilette  for  dining 
at  M''  Giles.  To  day  M''®  Tabb  expects  their  company  to  dine  with  her, 
and  must  close  ready  for  M'®  D'^  Grahame®  care,  I  am  sorry  to  abridge 
you  of  particulars  of  all  our  friends  and  relatives  both  at  WilFburg  and 
over  the  Atlantic — but  unfortunately  I  woke  this  morn  with  a  light  danc¬ 
ing  before  my  eyes  and  headache  and  Theod’^  advises  the  disuse  of  the 
quill.  “  Your  truly  afiect :  Aunt 

“  A.  Banister.” 


“Amelia  Sept:  12*’’ 1810. 

“  Mr  DEAR  Niece  : 

“  M''  Thomas  Tabb  (Broth’’  to  my  Theod'’®  wife)  sets  out  to  morrow  on 
a  visit  to  his  Aunt  Whiting®  about  y’’  ne’bourhood  and  promises  to  give 
you  a  call.  My  daughter  Seignora  B  ;  unites  with  me  in  the  same.  Her 
good  man  is  gone  down  to  Petersburg.  My  other  Son  and  Daughter  are 
at  the  Sulphur  Springs  whither  my  Monro  and  his  eldest  Son  are  in 
pursuit  of  health.  They  are  rather  better  tho  ;  not  well  yet.  My  Mary 
thank  Heaven  is  in  good  health.  All  our  friends  in  the  old  City  were 
well  lately  as  well  as  my  amiable  Hamilton®  where  I  intend  to  take  up 
my  winter  quarters  halting  by  the  way  with  my  W’“®burg  friends  for  a 
few  weeks  when  I  trust  they  will  all  be  returned  from  their  summer  ex¬ 
cursions  Poor  M’’  Cary  has  not  gone  as  usual  up  the  Country  this  year, 
having  been  taken  with  a  vertigo  (while  walking  with  two  or,  three 
Ladies  in  the  garden)  and  fell  with  his  leg  under  him,  which  broke  one 
of  the  small  bones — he  bore  it  with  great  patience  and  by  so  doing  it  con¬ 
tributed  not  a  little  to  exhilirate  the  cure.  M’’®  Peachy  since  the  death  of 
the  old  gentleman  has  taken  in  a  few  boarders,  which  enables  her  to  keep 
a  good  House.  I  believe  I  informed  you  he  had  left  all  he  possessed  to 
her  for  life.  M’®  J.  Cary  is  at  her  Mother®  in  Albemarle.  Miles  Cary  is 
to  be  married  this  fall  to  a  Miss  Curl.  Wilson  &  his  family  are  fixed  in 
Fluvanna.  I  have  not  heard  from  Litchfield.  Seignora  bids  me  assure 
you  she  intends  to  manage  much  better,  being  determined  that  (save  sick- 


LETTERS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE.  115 

ness  or  death)  to  visit  you.  Tell  dear  Mary  I  have  spread  her  fame  for 
industry  by  the  sample  of  linen  for  her  Hubby. 

“Your  affect:  A.  Banister 

“  P.  S.  No  female  letter  is  compleat  without  a  P.  S.  Please  say  to 
D’’  Graham  that  I  was  yesterday  at  M’’  Giles®.  All  well  1  “  Adieu.’’ 

“  Bollingbroke  July  10“*  1811. 

“I  hope  My  dear  Niece  your  amiable  Francis  made  you  sensible  of 
my  inability  to  write  by  him.  Being  just  arrived  among  my  old  acquaint¬ 
ances  made  me  so  consequential,  and  in  compliment  to  Monro®  wife  kept 
us  with  a  succession  of  company.  I  sent  a  promise  by  him  that  I  would 
write  by  post.  The  intense  warm  weather  made  my  little  Grd  Son 
(Monro)  very  sick — He  is  very  puny.  In  writing  you  must  take  more 
time  and  not  fatigue  yourself — do  not  finish  a  letter  at  one  sitting.  Fran¬ 
cis  must  give  you  particulars.  But  for  his  kindness  I  could  not  have  left 
Norfolk  when  I  did  for  straightened  (as  I  am  too  oft)  and  under  the  ex¬ 
pectations  of  my  son®  coming  down  to  me — had  incur'*  for  necessaries  a 
small  acct  which  I  would  not  have  turn'*  my  back  on  unpaid  on  any  con¬ 
sideration  this  I  candidly  acknowledged  to  him  while  pressing  me  to  quit 
Norfolk  on  acct:  of  the  sickly  season  coming  on  when  kindly  and  freely 
did  he  offer  me  his  Purse  in  such  a  way  as  to  induce  me  to  accept  and  to 
impress  my  mind  with  indelible  sentiments  of  the  benevolence  of  his 
heart.  My  friends  (the  H.&xm\ions  particularly)  paid  him  their  attentions. 
I  introduced  him  to  the  Barrands  and  Kings  who  were  highly  pleased 
with  your  remembrance  of  them.  I  had  intended  calling  on  your  Cousin 
Tunstall  with  Niece  Peachy  but  much  company  and  rheumatism  pre¬ 
vented.  I  wished  to  introduce  your  Son  to  her.  Catharine  the  sister  is 
supported  by  the  best  of  brothers  who  by  his  own  industry  amply  supplies 
her  with  every  comfort.  M”  Cocke,  the  Tuckers  and  Skipwith®  all  en¬ 
quire  after  you.  The  ancient  City  looks  melancholy  by  so  many  houses 
being  shut  up.  The  inhabitants  have  many  of  them  left  it  for  their  sum¬ 
mer  residence.  Francis  can  tell  you  respecting  the  Hendersons  my  Sons 
Daughters  and  their  young  fry,  and  of  my  wish  to  accompany  the  Doctor 
to  your  house.  My  Monro  and  his  Rib  send  love  to  you.  If  you  saw 
the  confusion  I  am  surrounded  by  you  would  excuse  further  writing  ; 
here  are  females  chattering  children  squalling  nurses  with  all  the  noise 
they  can  make  in  order  to  quiet  them. 

“  Your  devoted 

“  A.  Banister. 

“P.  S.  I  have  to  apologize  for  not  procuring  for  you  any  Roots  or 
flower  seed.  I  am  told  the  Fall  is  the  best  time  for  both.  I  have  a 
promise  of  some,  and  will  send  them  when  an  opportunity  presents.  M” 
Bolling  says  nothing  but  that  it  was  not  the  season  for  doing  so  prevented 

8 


116 


THE  BANISTEK  FAMILY. 


her  sending  you  any.  Many  thanks  for  the  moss  Tippet  you  sent  me  it 
is  very  pretty  &  I  will  prize  the  gift.” 


“  Clay  Hill 

“  Sept :  13‘h  1811 

“  M”  Tabb  being  to  set  out  to  morrow  for  Goshen  I  must  write  hur¬ 
riedly.  M”  Peachy  will  be  obliged  home  in  October.  Monro  has  been 
to  Col :  Cary®  in  Fluvanna  on  his  way  home.  The  old  gentleman  is  in 
particularly  low  in  spirits — his  prospect  for  a  crop  very  unfavorable  and 
he  under  promise  to  pay  a  good  deal  of  money — Poor  soul  I  compassion¬ 
ate  his  feelings.  I  have  had  a  late  letter  from  M’'®  Hamilton.  My  sons 
and  daughter  Seignora  unite  with  me  in  love  to  you  all. 

“  Your  devotedly  affect :  Aunt 

“  A.  Banister.” 


“  Wmsburg  Dec®  1814. 

“  I  am  just  on  the  wing  my  ever  dear  Niece  for  my  winter  quarters  at 
Norfolk  from  whence  you  shall  (as  soon  as  I  have  written  two  or  three 
lett®  from  Europe)  have  more  particulars.  I  have  written  a  late  letter 
which  it  appears  was  not  received  expressive  of  my  great  love.  Our 
friends  and  Relatives  are  well  save  colds  wh:  at  this  season  may  be  ex¬ 
pected.  Whooping  cough  prevails.  I  have  not  seen  Monro  since  April. 
He  is  very  buisy  in  Petersburg  looking  into  our  deranged  concerns. 
Heaven  has  graciously  raised  me  up  a  friend  willing  and  able  to  keep  my 
Theodorick  comfortable  and  happy  in  Europe  or,  till  his  Brother  had 
made  some  arrangements.  He  must  have  suffered.  His  last  Let®  says  that 
he  had  gone  to  take  his  Degrees  as  Doctor  soon.  After  he  was  to  go  to 
Litchfield  then  to  London  and  in  the  spring  to  embark  for  Virginia.  He 
never  omits  love  to  you.  A  Lett®  from  my  Sister  is  fraught  with  tender¬ 
ness  for  you  &  yours  and  pious  wishes  for  the  felicity  of  all  that  belong 
to  you.  She  was  sad  in  spirits.  Her  daughter  Mary®  husband  (Capt. 
Dixon)  was  lost  off  the  coast  of  Ireland  in  April  last.  The  particulars 
you  may  have  seen  in  the  papers.  He  commanded  the  Apollo.  His  wife 
and  three  children  are  now  residents  of  their  family  which  adds  to  ex¬ 
penditures  and  the  war  makes  everything  so  high  they  can  scarcely  make 
out  to  live. 

“  How  are  you  all  after  this  Sickly  Summer  ?  Have  you  heard  any¬ 
thing  of  dear  Francis — My  zeal  is  inferior  to  No  ones  on  his  behalf. 
Heaven  long  preserve  to  you  the  comforts  you  derive  from  your  children. 

“  Your  Aunt  A.  B. 

‘‘P.  S. 

“  The  Hamiltons  certainly  go  to  Europe  next  Spring.” 


LETTERS  AND  CORRESPONDENCE. 


117 


The  reader  has  already  had  presented  the  interesting 
letters  of  Mrs.  Banister  before  her  marriage,  and  signed 
Agan,  or  Ann,  Blair,  her  maiden  name. 

The  following  letter  from  the  relative  of  Mrs.  Banister 
presents  a  graphic  description  of  a  state  of  war : 

“  Richmond  Aug‘  2“'^  1813. 

“  Your  lette'  my  Beloved  reached  me  just  as  we  were  setting  out  for 
this  place.  I  hasten  to  relieve  your  anxiety.  We  suffered  in  the  general 
panic  that  pervaded  W“®burg.  When  the  British  landed  within  4  or  5 
miles  of  us  we  had  not  more  than  50  militia  in  the  place.  The  students, 
however,  went  out  and  every  Boy  that  could  hold  a  musket.  I  must  ow7i 
1  lost  fears  for  my  own  safety  in  anxiety  for  the  precious  Lives  that  might 
be  lost.  Dear  Thomas  H  :  was  not  inactive;  tho :  only  15  he  was  sent 
with  a  cart  for  Bacon  for  the  Troops  that  were  expected.  I  dreaded  his 
being  taken  with  his  Cargo  by  the  enemy,  however  he  arrived  safe,  but 
poor  fellow  he  had  to  walk  8  miles  back  and  shoes  did  not  fit  him  ;  ho 
was  obliged  to  take  them  off.  He  met  so  many  flying  he  concluded  the 
Town  was  taken,  but  he  came  on  determining  to  share  the  fate  of  his 
Friends  there  :  That  evening  we  had  a  large  Reinforcement  of  Troops 
who  poor  fellows  march'^  upwards  of  26  miles  in  a  day  one  of  the  hottest 
ever  felt,  they  too  expected  to  have  the  Enemy  to  dislodge,  but  thank 
God  they  left  our  Coast  without  Bloodshed  except  of  the  animal  Creation, 
&  it  is  generally  now  believed  they  meant  only  to  forage,  but  by  it  our 
Troops  were  harassed  by  fatiguing  marches  in  such  hot  dry  weather  many 
of  them  perished  on  the  Road.  Had  they  been  sent  sooner  they  might 
have  come  more  leisurely  and  comfortably,  and  too  have  saved  Hampton. 
The  Troops  there  fought  nobly  but  they  were  absolutely  sacrificed  by  not 
having  reinforcements  in  time.  Our  Friend  Major  Corbin  is  still  Suffer¬ 
ing  with  dangerous  wounds  he  received,  indeed  his  Life  is  a  miracle  as  he 
led  on  our  Troops  40  men  were  seen  to  have  their  muskets  pointed  at  once 
at  him.  His  horse  was  shot  in  the  Head  and  yet  carried  him  Six  miles, 
after  he  was  wounded  in  his  thigh  and  arm.  His  poor  wife  knew  when  the 
attack  begun,  heard  every  cannon  and  knew  too  how  her  Husband  was 
exposed  to  it,  and  at  the  time  she  had  a  Son  in  the  Chesapeake  that  she 
concluded  was  killed,  another  with  Commodore  Decatur  who  was  just 
expecting  when  he  wrote  to  engage  two  British  Ships.  Beyond  bearing 
must  have  been  her  feelings.  Her  sons  are  as  yet  spared  and  her  Hus¬ 
band  is  slowly  recovering,  but  how  many  hearts  are  wrung  by  the  missings 
occasioned  by  this  war.  Much  are  we  indebted  to  you  for  your  kind  invi¬ 
tation  but  I  have  lost  poor  John  and  my  Horses  are  so  infirm  that  neither 
they  or  the  driver  are  fit  to  attempt  Such  a  journey.  I  could  not  have 
come  thus  far  had  not  M^  Randolph  aided  me  with  a  Servant  and  Horses. 


118 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


They  have  gone  on  to  Powhatan.  I  shall  stay  with  them  some  weeks  til 
the  Sickly  Season  is  over  below,  but  God  knows  whether  I  may  have  a 
habitation  or  anything  to  return  to.  I  left  my  property  and  Friends  there 
with  great  reluctance.  Cousin  Peachy  would  have  gone  up  the  Country, 
but  she  was  afraid  to  leave  her  property.  Her  Daughter  went  up  with 
Polly  Tabb.  My  Daughter  Randolph  desires  love  to  you.  M''  Blair  and 
his  wife  arrived  here  quite  renovated  by  your  upper  air,  from  the  accounts 
they  bring  you  must  have  D"^  Banister  and  his  family  with  you.  I  am 
happy  that  Capt“  M^G.  is  well  with  his  nephews.  They  are  fine  fellows. 
I  hope  the  youngest  who  remained  during  our  troubles  has  got  safe  to  his 
friends  and  feels  no  bad  effects  from  the  exposures  he  had  ;  I  trembled  for 
them. 

“  Your  affect :  'r 

“  Mary  Andrews.” 


CHAPTER  III. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  AND  CORRESPONDENCE  OP 
THE  BANISTER  FAMILY,  1896. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Banister,  D.D.,  Huntsville,  Ala.,  writes  thus  : 

“  December  4,  1889. 

“My  grandfather.  Colonel  John  Banister,  was  married  twice ;  first,  to 
Miss  Bland,  sister  of  Colonel  Theodorick  Bland,  Jr.  His  second  wife  was 
Anne  Blair.  By  this  marriage  there  were  only  two  children  :  Theodorick 
B.  Banister  and  John  Monro  Banister.  The  former  was  my  uncle,  the  lat¬ 
ter  my  father.  All  the  children  of  my  uncle  are  dead,  two  grandchildren 
only  surviving,  Mrs.  Barksdale,  of  Osmore,  Amelia  County,  Va.,  and  Mrs. 
Wilson,  whose  husband,  I  think,  was  before  the  Civil  War  an  officer  of 
the  navy.  I  think  she  now  lives  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  or  did  so  some  years 
ago.  I  do  not  remember  their  given  names.  Their  father  was  a  Mr. 
Peachy,  of  Williamsburg.  All  my  father’s  children  are  dead  except  my¬ 
self  and  my  sister,  Mrs.  Charles  L.  Stickney,  of  Greensboro,  Ala.  The 
children  of  my  sister  Helen  are  Robert  Madison,  residing  at  Sylva,  N.  C., 
and  Bolling  Madison,  residing  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.  My  brother  William’s 
children  are  John  M.  Banister,  Mrs.  H.  Noltenius,  and  Mrs.  Campbell 
Pryor,  all  living  in  Petersburg,  Va.  The  Rev.  T.  Lewis  Banister  resides 
at  Constableville,  N.  Y.  My  nieces,  Mrs.  George  Mason,  at  Petersburg, 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Richards,  wife  of  Professor  Richards,  at  Rolla,  Mo. 

“  P.  S. — I  have  omitted  to  mention  the  names  of  my  own  children. 
These  are  Dr.  John  M.  Banister  and  Dr.  William  B.  Banister,  both  sur- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  AND  CORRESPONDENCE.  119 


geons  in  the  United  States  army.  The  first  is  stationed  at  Fort  Sherman, 
Idaho,  and  the  latter  at  Fort  Grant,  Arizona. 

“  Yours  respectfully, 

“  J.  M.  Banister. 

“Dr.  Frederick  Horner,  U.  S.  Navy.” 

“Huntsville,  Ala.,  February  18,  1890. 

“  In  answer  to  a  letter  received  in  November  last,  I  sent  you  all  the 
information  I  possessed  on  the  subject  of  the  book  you  expected  to  pub¬ 
lish.  As  I  feel  very  great  interest  in  the  matter,  I  may  add  the  late  Judge 
Wyndham  Robertson  published  a  very  interesting  volume,  giving  a  his¬ 
tory  of  my  ancestors  on  my  mother’s  side,  who  was  a  Bolling  and  de¬ 
scendant  of  the  Robert  Bolling  who  married  Jane  Rolfe,  the  granddaugh¬ 
ter  of  Pocahontas.  I  have  the  book.  Have  you  a  copy  of  the  ‘  Bland 
Papers,’  by  Charles  Campbell,  of  Virginia?  They  may  be  useful  to  you. 

“  I  am  yours  sincerely, 

“J.  M.  Banister. 

“To  Dr.  Frederick  Horner.” 

(Refer  to  “  The  Bolling  Family  in  England  and  Vir¬ 
ginia, ”  by  W.  H.  Wade,  Richmond,  published  in  1869.) 

In  the  columns  of  the  Southern  Churchman  for  July, 
1892,  is  given  the  following  account  of  the  Christian  work 
already  accomplished  by  the  author  of  the  above  letter. 
Rev.  J.  M.  Banister,  D.D.,  rector  of  the  church  of  the 
F’ativity  in  Huntsville,  Ala.  The  writer  states : 

“  Under  his  careful  and  loving  guidance  the  Nativity 
has  grown,  and  to  his  teachings,  with  God’s  blessing,  the 
parish  owes  whatever  life  and  strength  it  has  now.  The 
communicants  number  about  three  hundred.  In  connec¬ 
tion  with  the  church  is  a  Woman’s  Guild;  a  Dorcas  So¬ 
ciety  of  young  girls — the  last  society  is  systematically 
employed  in  making  garments  for  the  poor;  a  band 
called  the  Order  of  All  Saints  is  working  slowly  with 
the  noble  aim  of  founding  a  church  home  for  orphans. 
Our  rector.  Rev.  Dr.  Banister,  for  thirty  years  has  been 
to  us  a  gentle,  faithful  shepherd,  whose  interest  in  his 
flock  has  deepened  as  time  rolled  on,  and  who,  when  he 
had  the  right  to  plead  the  weakness  of  advancing  years 
and  the  heavy  burden  of  his  own  individual  work,  has, 
instead,  come  to  the  front  and,  unaided  and  alone,  has 


120 


THE  BANISTER  FAMILY. 


taken  care  of  the  fatherless  parishes  of  N’orth  Alabama. 
Verily,  Decatur  and  Athens,  Scottsboro  and  Trinity  and 
Madison,  as  well  as  the  church  of  the  Nativity,  have  rea¬ 
son  to  rise  up  and  call  him  blessed.  This  statement  is 
made  to  prove,  in  this  far-away  corner  of  Alabama,  that, 
instead  of  the  stagnation  which  might  perhaps  be  reason¬ 
ably  expected  from  our  isolation,  there  is  warm,  vigorous 
life  in  the  church  of  the  Nativity  at  Huntsville.” 

No  reader  will  fail  to  accord  to  the  above  descendant 
of  the  Banister  family  of  Virginia  the  meed  that  he  is 
truly  the  honored  son  of  honored  ancestors  !  Under  date 
of  November  2,  1893,  he  writes  ; 

“  Many  thanks  for  your  letter  containing  information 
about  the  family  of  my  great-great-grandfather,  the  Rev. 
John  Monro.  His  daughter  Mary  married  John  Blair, 
Esq.,  the  father  of  Jud^ge  John  Blair,  of  the  Federal 
Court,  and  of  my  grandmother,  Anne  Blair,  wife  of 
Colonel  John  Banister,  of  Battersea,  Va.  I  have  the  coat- 
of-arms  of  the  Banisters  lately  found  pasted  in  an  old  law¬ 
book  of  Colonel  Banister.  I  shall  send  a  copy  to  Professor 
Tyler.  I  hope  he  will  explore  further  the  foundations  of 
the  old  church  there.” 

The  reader  is  referred  to  the  “  History  of  the  Blair 
Family”  in  this  volume  concerning  such  explorations,  and 
also  for  the  most  interesting  correspondence  of  Anne 
Blair,  and  subsequently,  after  her  marriage  with  Colonel 
Banister,  in  letters,  it  may  be  added,  mainly  addressed  to 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Whiting,  nee  Braxton,  the  great-grand- 
ancestress  of  the  author,  contained  in  this  biography. 

July  12,  1896,  Dr.  J.  M.  Banister  celebrated  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  his  ministry.  In  1848  he  went  to  Ala¬ 
bama.  He  has  baptized  five  hundred  and  two  persons, 
old  and  young.  His  church  at  Huntsville,  Ala.,  the  Na- 
tivitjq  had,  when  he  became  its  rector,  eighty-four  mem¬ 
bers.  There  are  now  two  hundred  and  eighty-four;  two 
hundred  and  eighty-one  have  removed  or  died.  Dr.  Ban¬ 
ister  married  Miss  Mary  Louise  Broadnax,  of  Virginia, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  AND  CORRESPONDENCE.  121 

February  1, 1848,  at  the  old  family  mansion  in  Dinwiddie 
County.  In  all  his  pastorate  his  wife  has  been  his  faith¬ 
ful  co-worker,  and  has  presided  at  the  organ  for  many 
years. 

His  son,  Captain  John  M.  Banister,  assistant  surgeon, 
U.  S.  A.,  was  promoted  to  be  surgeon,  with  the  rank  of 
major,  January  26,  1897. 


part  Him, 

THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

SKETCH  OP  THE  LIPE  OP  OAETEE  BRAXTON. 

The  founder  of  the  Braxton  family  in  America  was 
George  Braxton,  according  to  Dr.  J.  M.  Toner,  of  Wash¬ 
ington  City,  a  trader  or  tobacco  agent.  He  married  the 
daughter  of  the  so-called  “  King  Carter,”  of  Virginia, 
settled  on  the  Mattapony  River,  in  King  William  County, 
Va.,  and  built  “  Kewington,”  *  where  now  “West  Point” 
is  located  and  is  the  seat  of  a  large  and  important  ship¬ 
ping  trade.  He  was  the  father  of  George  and  Carter 
Braxton,  the  latter  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde¬ 
pendence.  They  have  many  descendants  in  King  and 
Queen  County,  Va.,  and  others  scattered  over  the  United 
States.  Braxton  County,  W.  Va.,  was  named  in  honor 
of  the  family. 


*“  Newington,”  the  Braxton  family  mansion,  still  to  be  seen  near 
West  Point,  in  King  and  Queen  County,  Va.,  was  built  by  George 
Braxton,  Sr.,  an  English  colonist,  the  father  of  George  and  Carter  Brax¬ 
ton.  This  homestead  after  his  death  became  the  property  of  his  elder 
son,  George,  who  married  Mary  Blair,  the  daughter  of  John  Blair,  of 
Williamsburg,  as  shown  by  numerous  letters  addressed  to  this  lady  at 
Newington.  When  Colonel  George  Braxton  died,  his  widow  became  the 
wife  of  Roger  Prescott,  an  Englishman,  who  removed  to  her  residence  at 
Bull  Run,  or  Enfield,  Prince  William  County,  Va. ;  these  letters  then 
furnish  the  evidence  that  “Newington”  became  the  property  of  Carter 
Braxton,  the  signer. 

122 


CARTER  BRAXTON 
(Signer  of  Declaration  of  Independence). 


• -.'M 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  CARTER  BRAXTON.  123 


The  following  letter  frona  Dr.  J.  Braxton  Hicks,  one  of 
the  great  English  physicians,  a  London  man,  inventor  of 
several  instruments  which  are  or  lately  were  in  general 
use,  furnishes  most  interesting  facts  connected  with  the 
Braxton  family  of  England  : 

“  24  George  Street,  Hanover  Square,  W. 

“  March  29,  1890. 

“  I  will  make  inquiries  regarding  the  origin  of  the  Braxtons  of  Vir¬ 
ginia.  My  mother  was  a  Braxton  of  Lymington,  Hampshire  (Hantz). 
The  family  had  been  there  for  two  or  three  centuries,  many  of  them  being 
buried  in  Milford  churchyard,  about  four  miles  from  Lymington,  some 
tombstones  dating  back  to  1600  something.  There  are  various  modes  of 
spelling, — Breakstone,  Brackstone, — but  in  this  century  it  has  been  as  my 
name  is  spelt.  I  have  never  heard  of  any  of  them  going  to  the  States. 
It  is  not  a  common  name  outside  of  our  family ;  indeed,  I  have  never 
heard  it  but  once;  so  that  it  is  very  likely  that  the  Virginia  Braxtons 
came  from  my  mother’s  family.  I  have  inquired  of  a  third  cousin  whose 
mother’s  name  was  Braxton, — a  cousin  of  my  mother’s  mother, — but  he 
has  no  tradition  in  his  family.  They  were  well-to-do  as  good  middle 
class,  and  something  above.  My  son,  who  has  the  name  also,  will  over¬ 
look  the  history  of  Hantz,  and  perhaps  we  may  find  a  hint.  We  have 
two  sea  paintings,  done  in  1820  or  so  by  a  Captain  Elliott,  who,  I  always 
understood,  was  a  something  cousin  of  ours.  He  was  in  the  fieet  that  went 
to  Naples  after  the  end  of  our  French  war.  They  hang  in  my  hall  now, 
and  are  creditable  p»rformances  for  an  amateur.  But  whether  his  name 
and  Elliott  Braxton,  Esq.,  have  any  connection  I  have  no  idea,  but  the 
hint  may  help  you.  I  am  inclined  to  think  as  a  surname  the  name  will 
die  out,  but  it  is  in  many  families  who  have  married  into  the  Braxtons.* 
“The  last  of  the  name  had  only  one  daughter.  He  was  one  of  the 
extinct  race  of  independent  yeomen,  upwards  of  six  feet  high,  upright  in 
body  and  mind,  simple  in  living,  up  at  four  a.m.  in  summer,  six  in  winter. 


*  G.  R.  Brown  Horner,  M.D.,  United  States  Navy,  in  “Medical 
Observations  upon  the  Mediterranean, Spain”  (“Horner’s  Observations,” 
1839),  describing  Gibraltar,  says  :  “  Near  the  Rosia  and  Pavilion  Barracks 
is  the  statue  of  General  Elliott,  who  distinguished  himself  so  much  dur¬ 
ing  the  last  and  celebrated  siege  of  Gibraltar,  and  that  of  Neptune,  which 
was  the  figure-head  of  the  St.  Juan,  a  Spanish  ship-of-the-line  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  guns,  captured  by  the  English.”  This  General 
Elliott  may  be  of  the  same  family  as  the  artist  referred  to. 


124 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


midday  meal  at  twelve,  in  bed  about  eight  p.m,,  and  died  at  a  ripe  age. 
If  j’ou  will  wait  a  little,  I  will  look  up  the  itineraries  of  the  county. 

“  In  the  meantime,  I  remain  yours,  faithfully, 

“  J.  Braxton  Hicks.” 

Carter  Braxton  *  was  born  at  “  l^^ewington,”  on  the 
Mattapony,  in  King  and  Queen  County,  Va.,  September 
10,  1736,  and  died  October  10,  1797,  in  the  city  of  Rich¬ 
mond,  Va,  His  father,  George  Braxton,  was  a  wealthy 
planter,  who  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of  Robert  Car- 


*  In  connection  with  this  portrait  of  Carter  Braxton,  the  signer, 
Charles  Tayloe  Mason,  Esq.,  thus  writes: 

“  Chillicothb,  Ohio,  November  17,  1890. 

”  I  have  the  miniature,  elliptical  in  form,  about  two  and  a  quarter  by 
one  and  a  quarter  inches,  painted  on  ivory,  set  in  gold,  surrounded  by 
small  pearls.  I  have  no  proof  positive  that  this  is  a  likeness  of  Carter 
Braxton  other  than  that  this  and  one  similar  in  size,  shape,  and  mount¬ 
ing  (used  as  armlets,  I  suppose)  were  always  in  my  father’s  possession  as 
having,  with  other  things,  belonged  to  my  mother,  Anna  Tayloe  Braxton. 
The  miniature  of  the  Corbin  was  lent  to  a  lady  member  of  that  family 
and  taken  to  Paris  to  be  copied  many  years  ago  and  never  returned.  I 
have  been  taught  to  believe  this  was  a  likeness  of  the  signer,  and  some 
years  ago,  at  the  request  of  some  member  of  the  Braxton  family,  of  King 
William  County,  had  some  photographs  taken.  One  member  expressed 
some  doubts, — there  is  always  a  Thomas  I — and  a  few  months  before  my 
father’s  death,  which  occurred  in  King  George  County,  in  May,  1888,  I 
told  him  of  this  doubt,  and  he  assured  me  there  could  be  none. 

‘‘My  father,  Charles  Mason,  of  King  George  County,  Va.,  married 
his  second  wife,  Maria  J.  C.  Randolph,  daughter  of  Thomas  Jefferson 
Randolph,  at  Edgehill,  Albemarle  County,  in  1849.  I  married  Susie 
Wood  Janies  here  in  Ohio  in  1868,  and,  sad  to  say,  she  died  in  October, 
1888.  Except  imperfect  pencil  dates  of  births  and  deaths,  I  have  no 
papers  or  letters  or  Bibles, — two  fires  and  the  casualty  of  war  swept  the 
platter, — and  the  few  relics  I  have  wore  saved  from  our  burning  house  in 
Virginia  by  the  thoughtfulness  of  my  stepmother,  named  above,  at  the 
risk  of  her  own  life.” 

Here  the  author  will  state  that  through  the  courtesy  of  Major  E.  M. 
Braxton,  ex-member  of  Congress  and  great-grandson  of  Carter  Braxton, 
the  signer,  he  obtained  a  copy  of  the  miniature  thus  referred  to  and 
described. 


“ NEWINGTON” 
(Residence  of  Carter  Braxton). 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  CARTER  BRAXTON.  125 

ter,  president  of  the  council  of  the  colony  of  Virginia, 
and  in  1748  represented  the  county  of  King  and  Queen, 
being  the  colleague  of  John  (known  as  Speaker)  Robinson. 
Carter  Braxton,  whose  ancestors  were  of  English  origin, 
was  educated  at  the  college  of  William  and  Mary.  In  the 
history  of  the  institution  and  Catalogue  of  Alumni  the 
name  first  appears  in  1720 ;  that  of  Carter  Braxton  in 
1756.  He  inherited  upon  his  father’s  death  a  large  estate. 
He  graduated  at  William  and  Mary  College  at  the  age  of 
nineteen.  He  married  Judith,  daughter  of  Christopher 
Robinson,  of  Middlesex.  She  dying  in  1757,  Mr.  Braxton 
visited  England,  where  he  remained  for  several  years,  and 
returned  in  1760.  He  married,  in  1761,  Elizabeth  Corbin. 
He  built  a  mansion  at  Elsin  Green,  on  the  Pamunkey,  and 
another  at  Chericoke.  He  lived  in  a  style  of  lavish  hos¬ 
pitality,  according  to  the  fashion  of  that  day.  In  1761 
he  was  a  burgess  from  King  William,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  session  of  1765.  His  colleague  was  Bernard 
Moore,  son-in-law  of  Governor  Spottswood. 

Mr.  Braxton  was  in  1769  a  signer  of  the  non-importa¬ 
tion  agreement,  and  in  1774  was  a  member  of  the  conven¬ 
tion.  He  alv'ays  coincided  with  the  moderate  counsels  of 
Pendleton  and  Peyton  Randolph.  He  was  one  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  was  elected  to  Congress  in  place  of 
the  latter  gentleman,  and  was  a  signer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence. 

When  Captain  Montague,  of  the  British  man-of-war 
Howey,  landed  his  marines  at  Williamsburg  to  defend 
Governor  Dunmore  against  Patrick  Henry’s  threatened 
assault  on  the  magazine,  Mr.  Braxton  interposed  his  ef¬ 
forts  to  prevent  matters  from  coming  to  extremities. 
Finding  that  Henry  would  not  disband  without  receiving 
the  powder  which  Dunmore  had  removed  to  Williams¬ 
burg  or  its  equivalent,  Mr.  Braxton  returned  to  the  city 
and  procured  from  Colonel  Corbin,  his  father-in-law,  then 


126 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


the  deputy  receiver-general,  a  bill  of  exchange  for  the 
amount  demanded,  and,  delivering  it  to  Henry,  succeeded 
in  warding  off  the  impending  blow.  He  was  thus  essen¬ 
tially  instrumental  in  effecting  a  settlement  on  behalf  of 
■  Lord  Dunmore,  and  by  which  the  excited  populace  were 
pacified.  He  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Burgesses 
when  Patrick  Henry’s  celebrated  resolutions  were  passed, 
and  in  1769,  when  Governor  Dunmore  suddenly  dissolved 
the  assembly,  with  others  retired  to  a  private  room  in  the 
famous  Raleigh  Hotel  to  devise  a  plan  of  resistance.  He 
was  a  very  active  member  of  the  last  House  of  Burgesses 
ever  convened  in  Virginia  by  royal  authority.  On  the 
meeting  of  the  general  assembly,  the  first  under  the  new 
constitution,  with  Mr.  Jefferson  they  received  a  vote  of 
thanks  “  for  the  eloquence,  ability,  and  integrity  with 
which  they  executed  the  important  trust  reposed  in  them.” 
In  subsequent  years  Mr.  Braxton  was  a  member  of  Con¬ 
gress  in  Philadelphia  from  1777  to  1783,  and  from  1786 
to  1791  he  was  a  member  of  the  council  of  his  native 
State.  This  was  at  a  time  when  Congress,  cabinet,  and 
all  public  functionaries  were  selected  from  the  very  Rite 
of  the  nation.  Pure  patriotism,  commanding  talent,  and 
eminent  services  were  the  proud,  indispensable  requisites 
for  official  station  in  the  early  days  of  the  republic. 
(See  Campbell’s  “  History  of  Virginia.”) 

Previous  to  the  great  struggle  of  1776  Mr.  Braxton, 
then  a  member  of  Congress,  which  had  assembled  in 
Philadelphia,  published  a  pamphlet  entitled  “  An  Address 
to  the  Convention  of  the  Colony  and  Ancient  Dominion 
of  Virginia  on  the  Subject  of  Government.”  A  critic  of 
the  day  declared  that  it  expressed  the  views  of  “  the  little 
junto  from  whence  it  proceeded.”  It  was  denounced  by 
R.  H.  Lee  as  exhibiting  “  confusion  of  ideas,  aristocratic 
pride,  and  contradictory  reasoning  with  evident  ill  de¬ 
sign.”  The  author  regrets  to  have  been  unable  to  pro- 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  CARTER  BRAXTON.  127 

cure  a  copy  of  this  valuable  State  paper.  Patrick  Henry’s 
opinion  was,  “  There  was  too  great  bias  to  aristocracy 
prevalent  among  the  opulent.”  The  pure  patriotism  of 
Mr.  Braxton  remains,  however,  untarnished. 

“  Virtue  may  be  assailed,  but  never  hurt; 

Surprised  by  unjust  force,  but  not  inthralled  ; 

Yea,  even  that  which  mischief  meant  most  harm 
Shall  in  the  happy  trial  prove  most  glory.” 

To  him  with  others  belongs  the  immortal  honor  to  have 
declared  “  that  these  United  Colonies  are,  and  of  right 
ought  to  be,  free  and  independent  States,”  and  to  have 
pledged  “  his  life,  his  fortune,  and  his  sacred  honor  to 
dissolve  the  political  hands  which  have  connected  them 
with  Great  Britain.” 

In  proof  of  the  piety  of  the  men  who  assembled  in 
Congress  at  Philadelphia  to  devise  measures  to  secure 
and  maintain  the  national  honor  and  to  preserve  the  lib¬ 
erties  of  the  American  people,  according  to  the  history 
of  the  proceedings  of  that  Congress,  they  were  at  tirst 
marked  by  a  want  of  harmony  and  threatened  dissolu¬ 
tion,  when  Benjamin  Franklin  proposed  to  appeal  by 
prayer  to  the  Supreme  Euler  of  the  Universe.  It  is  well 
known  that  the  resolution  was  promptly  carried  almost 
unanimously,  the  dissenting  voters  being  delegates  from 
South  Carolina  and  Hew  York,  when  Eev.  Mr.  Duche, 
an  Episcopal  clergyman,  offered  up  the  following  earnest 
prayer : 

“  0  Lord,  our  Heavenly  Father,  high  and  mighty  King 
of  Kings  and  Lord  of  Lords,  who  dost  from  Thy  throne 
behold  all  the  dwellers  of  the  earth,  and  reignest  with 
power  supreme  and  uncontrollable  over  the  kingdoms, 
empires,  and  governments,  look  down  in  mercy,  we  be¬ 
seech  Thee,  on  these  American  States,  who  have  fled  to 
Thee  from  the  rod  of  the  oppressor  and  thrown  them¬ 
selves  on  Thy  gracious  protection,  desiring  to  be  hence¬ 
forth  only  dependent  on  Thee.  To  Thee  have  they  ap- 


128 


THE  BEAXTON  FAMILY. 


pealed  for  the  I’ighteousiiess  of  their  cause ;  to  Thee  do 
tliey  now  look  up  for  that  countenauce  and  support  which 
Thou  aloue  canst  give.  Take  them,  therefore,  Heavenly 
Father,  under  Thy  nurturing  care ;  give  them  wisdom  in 
council  and  valor  in  the  held ;  defeat  the  malicious  de¬ 
signs  of  our  adversaries ;  convince  them  of  the  unright¬ 
eousness  of  their  cause ;  and  if  they  still  persist  in  their 
sanguinary  purpose,  oh !  let  the  voice  of  Thine  unerring 
justice,  sounding  in  their  hearts,  constrain  them  to  drop 
the  weapons  of  war  from  their  unnerved  hands  in  the  day 
of  battle.  Be  Thou  present,  0  God  of  wisdom !  and  di¬ 
rect  the  counsels  of  this  honorable  assembly ;  enable  them 
to  settle  things  on  the  best  and  surest  foundation,  that  the 
scene  of  blood  may  be  speedily  closed  and  that  order  and 
harmony  and  peace  may  be  restored,  and  truth  and  jus¬ 
tice,  religion  and  piety,  prevail  and  flourish  among  the 
people.  Preserve  the  health  of  their  bodies  and  vigor  of 
their  minds.  Shower  down  on  them  and  the  millions 
they  represent  such  temporal  blessings  as  Thou  seest  ex¬ 
pedient  for  them  in  this  world,  and  crown  them  with 
everlasting  glory  in  the  world  to  come.  All  this  we  ask 
in  the  name  and  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  Thy 
Son,  our  Saviour.  Amen.” 

He  proved  worthy  of  an  Anglo-Saxon  ancestry  in  se¬ 
curing  the  passage  by  the  general  assembly  of  Virginia 
of  an  “  Act  for  Establishing  Religious  Freedom,”  which 
he  subscribed  to  December  17,  1785.  It  said, — 

“Whereas,  Almighty  God  has  created  the  mind  that 
all  attempts  to  influence  it  by  temporal  punishments  tend 
only  to  beget  habits  of  hypocrisy  and  are  a  departure  from 
the  plan  of  the  Holy  Author  of  our  religion,  who,  being 
Lord  both  of  body  and  mind,  yet  chooses  not  to  propagate 
it  by  coercions  on  either ;  therefore 

“  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly,  That  no  man 
shall  be  compelled  to  frequent  or  support  any  religious 
worship,  nor  shall  otherwise  sufler  on  account  of  his  re¬ 
ligious  opinions  or  belief.” 

An  interesting  item  lately  revealed  through  the  public 
press  is,  that  the  warming  apparatus  of  those  days  in  the 


SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE  OF  CARTER  BRAXTON.  129 

State  Capitol,  and  still  extant,  consisted  in  “  a  most  aged 
stove,  probably  the  most  ancient  in  the  United  States, 
which  may  be  seen  in  the  Capitol  at  Richmond,  Va.  It 
was  made  in  England  in  1770,  and  was  in  the  House  of 
Burgesses  sixty  years  before  it  was  removed  to  its  present 
location.” 

By  reference  to  the  late  Bishop  Meade’s  volume,  “  Old 
Churches  and  Families  of  Virginia,”  we  have  evidence  of 
Mr.  Braxton’s  connection  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  subsequent  to  its  dismemberment  from  the  parent 
church  in  England.  Quoting  from  the  records  of  the 
parish  of  King  William,  it  appears  Mr.  Carter  Braxton 
was  the  lay  delegate  from  this  parish  in  1786  to  the  con¬ 
vention  which  reorganized  the  church  in  Virginia.  In 
1792  St.  John’s  Church  was  represented  by  Carter  Brax¬ 
ton,  Jr,  In  those  days  some  of  the  vestrymen  were  ap¬ 
pointed  from  policy.  They  went  so  far  as  not  to  conceal 
their  disbelief  in  Christianity.  This  author  adds : 

“  Among  the  men  of  education,  and  that  gotten  chiefly 
in  Europe,  and  distinguished  on  the  civil  list  of  Virginia’s 
history,  are  the  Blairs,  Banisters,  and  Braxtons,  It  was 
the  shame  of  our  forefathers,  both  here  and  in  England, 
to  fail  to  promote  education  among  the  poor  and  make 
them  the  bone  and  sinew  of  the  State.  It  is  our  sin  now  not 
to  give  more  attention  to  the  common  schools  of  Virginia 
in  order  to  make  them  nurseries  of  good  and  great  men.” 

There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  piety  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Both  his  ancestors  and  numerous  descendants 
had  been,  and  are  at  present,  noble  defenders  of  the  Chris¬ 
tian  faith.  In  lower  Virginia  at  this  period  the  men  of 
property  and  education  were  the  ruling  ones  of  the  par¬ 
ishes.  Then  the  parish  libraries  consisted  of  the  “  Book 
of  Homilies,”  the  “  Whole  Duty  of  Man,”  and  the  “  Sing¬ 
ing  Psalms.”  From  1720  to  the  Revolution  there  was  a 
decline  of  religion  in  the  church  of  Virginia.  Among  the 
records  appears  a  letter  of  the  bishop  of  London  against 


130 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


swearing.  There  are  frequent  notices  of  the  appointment 
by  the  civil  authority  of  Thanksgiving  Days, 

In  the  “  History  of  the  College  of  William  and  Mary,” 
among  the  visitors  elected  to  that  institution  in  1769  from 
King  William  County  was  Carter  Braxton.  This  fact 
furnishes  evidence  of  the  interest  which  he  evinced  on 
behalf  of  education.  George  Braxton  was  a  student  from 
King  and  Queen  in  1720;  George  Braxton,  Jr.,  in  1756; 
George  Braxton,  son  of  Carter  Braxton,  of  King  William 
County,  in  1775;  Cai’ter  Braxton,  of  Chericoke,  son  of 
George  Braxton,  in  1810. 

Among  the  names  of  the  original  members  of  the  Phi 
Beta  Kappa  Society,  established  in  Williamsburg,  Decem¬ 
ber  5,  1776,  appears  that  of  George  Braxton, 

“  The  signers  were  indeed  men  of  weight.  Probably  no 
country  ever  succeeded  so  well,  before  or  since,  in  getting 
the  very  best  of  its  people  gathered  to  execute  a  common 
purpose. 

“  Whatever  makes  or  enhances  human  force  was  repre¬ 
sented  in  it, — character,  talents,  reputation,  wealth,  distin¬ 
guished  descent,  experience  in  public  and  private  business, 
— all  were  there,  and  all  in  an  eminent  degree.  Yet,  on 
looking  over  the  list  of  their  honored  names,  few  of  us 
now  recognize  more  than  one-third  of  them. 

“  A  considerable  number  of  the  signers  lost  or  greatly 
diminished  their  estates  during  the  war,  and  many  of 
them  because  they  were  signers.  Thomas  Jefferson  was 
one  of  these.  It  was  evident  that  Cornwallis  singled  out 
his  property  for  special  spoliation,  even  killing  the  colts 
that  were  too  young  to  be  of  service, 

“  Carter  Braxton,  of  Virginia,  was  one  of  the  largest  capi¬ 
talists  in  the  Southern  States  at  the  beginning  of  the  war. 
So  many  of  his  ships  were  taken  by  the  enemy,  and  so  many 
of  his  debtors  failed,  that  he  never  again  enjoyed  pecuniary 
ease,  if  indeed  he  ever  knew  whether  he  was  solvent  or 
not.”  (See  Youth’s  Companion,  published  in  Boston.) 

One  of  the  central  counties  of  West  Virginia  is  called 
Braxton. 


CORRESPONDENCE  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  131 


CHAPTER  11. 

CORRESPONDENCE  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY, 

“Mt  dearest  Life. 

“  I  have  sent  Loudon  down  to  know  how  you  do :  I  was  glad  to  hear 
by  M”  Carter  that  you  were  better  than  when  my  Sister  left  you.  I  am 
sorry  I  ever  thought  of  going  a  Burgess  since  you  are  so  unwell,  but  as  I 
have  begun  am  willing  to  go  through  with  it  as  well  as  I  can  whe.  I  am 
in  hopes  will  he  pretty  well.  I  will  if  possible  he  down  the  latter  end  of 
this  week  to  see  you.  Send  Tuker  up  by  the  Flat.  My  compliments  to 
the  Family  and  tell  y''  Daddy  it  is  harder  work  than  imagined.  Pray 
send  the  enclosed  Letter  to  M'  Lightfoot.  Give  little  Molly  a  thousand 
kisses  for  me. 

“  I  am  my  darling 

“  Your  loving  Husband 

“George  Braxton 

Nov  :  leth  1755.” 


“Richmond  March  1781. 

“  It  is  with  Pleasure  I  embrace  this  opportunity  of  enquiring  after  my 
dear  Sister,  who  I  must  confess  from  the  great  hurry  of  business  and  my 
late  indisposition  has  been  neglected  tho  hope  you  have  two  generous  sen¬ 
timent  to  suppose  it  proceeded  from  any  other  than  the  above  mentioned 
reasons.  The  disappointment  of  not  seeing  you  below  hurts  me  much  as 
it  will  not  be  in  my  power  to  see  you  up  there,  tho  am  far  from  wishing  M' 
Whiting  to  impar  his  fortune  for  a  few  momentary  Pleasures,  that  will 
undoubtedly  be  encreased  by  absence  and  delay.  It  is  determined  that  I 
cannot  leave  the  Country  untill  I  am  of  age  which  time  you  well  know. 
I  hope  in  the  interim  you  will  adopt  the  same  resolution  that  I  have  done — 
not  to  omit  writing  by  every  opportunity.  We  have  had  a  great  deal 
of  myrth  this  Winter  considering  the  confused  crisis  frequent  Balls, 
sometimes  Gallanting  often  in  Love  but  never  could  tell  who  it  was  with — 
a  few  Bucks  have  lately  arrived  from  France  perfect  Frenchmen  and  have 
so  wholly  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Ladyes  that  but,  their  stamp  will 
go  down.  It  confirms  me  in  the  opinion  I  have  long  since  formed — a 
speedy  reformation  to  the  greatest  part  of  the  sex  is  the  sincere  wish  of 
your 

“  Affect  Brother 

“  George  Braxton 
9 


132 


THE  BEAXTON  FAMILY. 


“  EememLer  me  to  Bates  and  all  my  acquaintances  in  that  part  of  the 
world  tell  the  former  I  should  be  happy  in  receiving  a  letter  from  him — 
Send  my  waiscoats  bj'-  the  first  opportunity. 

“  Adieu.” 

“  I  received  yours  together  with  B®  on  my  way  here  after  having 
perused  the  enclosed  I™  Sorry  to  see  the  manner  in  which  your  acct  was 
received  by  her.  Her  order  on  me  or  my  Father  was  nothing  more  than  to 
disapoint  you  ;  the  state  of  his  affairs  being  well  known  to  her  in  order  to 
satisfy  the  two  E®  for  horses  her  son  purchased  of  them.  I  mentioned 
to  her  &  also  promis’d  to  discharge  them  provided  she  gave  me  an  order 
to  receive  some  Tob“  due  her  son ;  which  she  accordingly  did  hut  have  not 
been  able  to  receive  any ;  one  being  on  M*'  Stith  &  the  other  on  M''  H.  Clai¬ 
borne.  My  Father  is  situated  in  the  Same  manner  with  regard  to  her 
Son®  affairs  who  left  a  pretty  estate  behind  to  satisfy  all  demands  but  am 
sorry  to  see  M”®  B.  fall  upon  such  a  method  as  this  to  settle  them — I  wish 
sincerely  I  had  as  much  of  his  property  in  my  hands  as  would  pay  your 
Acct  but  have  not  one  Shilling  of  his  neither  am  I  indebted  anything  to 
him.  As  to  my  Father  her  Son  is  much  indebted  to  him  &  am  well  as¬ 
sured  it  does  not  suit  him  to  advance  either  the  Tob“  or  specie 
”  I  am  D”  Sir 

“  Yours  Sincerely 

“  Geoegb  Braxton.” 

“Dec  8  1781. 

“  To  Mrs  Mary  Burwell  on  Bull  Eun 
“  Dear  Madam, 

“  By  this  time  I  had  promised  myself  the  completion  of  our  Acct®  & 
that  of  my  Nephew  &  intended  fully  to  transmit  it  to  you.  For  this  end 
I  had  written  to  M’’  Irving  &  sundry  others  hut  have  not  been  able  to  col¬ 
lect  their  Accts  ag®  George.  Next  week  I  am  promised  them  &  will  as 
soon  after  as  opportunity  offers  send  it  to  you.  Horses  have  so  fallen  in 
value  of  late  that  I  fear  the  two  you  desired  me  to  sell  will  command  but 
little — the  Stallion  indeed  is  so  old  that  few  wish  to  be  concerned  with 
him.  I  have,  however,  desired  my  son  to  do  the  best  with  them. 

“  I  am  desired  by  a  friend  without  the  smallest  Intention  of  giving 
you  ofifence  to  know  if  D®  Griffin  should  sell  him  the  reversion  of  the  Land 
you  live  on  with  his  part  of  the  negroes  whether  you  have  any  Intention 
or  would  dispose  of  your  part  of  Land  or  Slaves  &  on  what  terms. 

“This  I  mention  at  the  instance  of  a  Gentleman  who  would  give  a 
great  Price  for  the  Estate  who  hopes  such  a  question  will  not  be  offensive 
to  you.  I  told  him  I  knew  nothing  of  the  affair,  but  would  mention  it 
to  you. 

“  My  son  thinks  it  best  to  return  the  Horse  to  M”  Whiting  as  he  can 


CORRESPONDENCE  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  133 

not  sell  him  here  scarcely  for  anything  My  love  to  M''®  Whiting  and 
respects  to  M®  Whiting  concludes  me 

“  Madam  your  affec  humb :  Ser‘ 

“  Carter  Braxton.” 

The  signature  of  this  letter,  among  the  few  extant  of 
Carter  Braxton,  the  signer,  is  marked  by  a  striking  origi¬ 
nality,  boldness,  and  beauty. 

“  Mrs  Braxton 
“  Newington 
“  in  King  &  Queen.” 

In  the  signature  of  Carter  Braxton  in  the  original  and 
copies  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  these  peculi¬ 
arities  may  be  observed.  One  of  the  stately  envelopes 
containing  a  letter  dated  1761  preserves  a  profusion  of 
the  softest  and  richest  golden  hair,  still  glossy  and  in 
curls,  and  as  fresh  in  appearance  as  when  clipped  from 
the  head  of  the  little  child  from  whom  it  was  taken  to  he 
sent  to  the  absent  relative  at  “  I7ewington.” 

Copy  of  memorandum-hook  of  lion.  John  Blair,  presi¬ 
dent  of  the  council  of  the  colony  of  Virginia  and  father  of 
Mrs.  Mary  Braxton 


“  M®  Carter  Braxton 

D® 

To  cash  lent  him  at  Will“®burg 

£0.  7.6. 

c- 

To  cash  ))^  Indian  Will 

0.  4.6. 

“  M®  Thom®  Swann 

D-- 

To  cash  at  Billiards 

0.17.3. 

“  John  Benjer 

To  ca.=li 

1.  1.6. 

“  M®  Tarvile  Brewer 

To  cash  won  of  him 

0.17.3. 

“  M®  John  Robinson 

To  cash  lent  him 

1.  1.6. 

“  M''  Charles  Carter  younger. 

To  cash  lent  him 

0.  2.6. 

*  The  memorandum-book  of  Mrs.  Braxton 

reveals  a  secret  of  the 

higb-born  ladies  of  Virginia  in  the  matter  of  winning  money  by  games  of 
chance  and  of  horse-swapping  that  will  amuse  if  not  startle  the  prudent 
dames  of  the  present. 


134 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


Page.  2. 

“July  at  Westover  1753. 

“  W“  Byrd  Esqr  Dr 

To  cash  won  at  Billiards  £139.16.0. 

To  D"  at  Williams^burg  19.  7.0. 

“Ball:  Due  1.36.  7.0. 

“  Aruistead  Burwell  Esqr  D'' 

£.  s.  d. 

To  cash  won  of  him  at  Tarpley®  4.  6.0. 

To  D“  at  D»  188.  2.6. 


£76.  4.6. 
23.13.0. 

“  The  Ballance 
C^: 
£100. 

16.  4.0. 
D-^ 

6.  7.6. 
6.  9.0. 
0.  6.3. 
D^ 

1.10.0. 
6.  9.0. 


7.19.0. 


6.17.6. 

“  Burwell  Bassett.  C'' 

by  Cash  1.  1.6. 

by  Cash  6.17.6. 

“  Burwell  Bassett  D^ 

To  Cash  upon  M''  Blair®  account  8.  7.6.” 


“  Index 


“  BaF®  Due 

“  W“  Byrd 

SepP  By  Cash  received  at  Leed®  Town 


“  Amistead  Burwell  Esqr. 

By  Cash  at  Tarpley® 

By  D®  at  Wetherburn®  and  Tarpley® 
“  Capt  P.  Johnson 
To  Cash  for  his  mare 
To  cash  at  H.  H. 

To  1  Hhd®  Tobacco 
“  M"'  John  Blair 
To  cash 

“  Aug*  20^’'  1753,  at  Brick  House 
“  M’’  Burwell  Bassett 
To  cash  won  at  Back“ 

To  cash  in  swap  of  a  Horse 


Burwell  Armistead  page  4. 

Byrd  W“  Esqr  4. 

Johnson  Phillip  4. 

Swann  Thomson  4. 

Benjer  John  3. 

Brewer  Tarvelle  3. 


Carter  Charles  page  3, 

Brooke  George  2. 

Braxton  Carter  2. 

Brooke  Humph^  1. 

Spotswood  John  1. 


CORRESPONDENCE  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  135 

“Lands  belonging  to  the  Braxton  Estate.  Memorand:  of  Patents  for  Land 
R.  P.  832  Acres  Greenbrier 

R.  P.  1048  Acres  Greenbrier  County  “4310 

R.  P.  1920  “  Harrison  County  320 

R.  P.  710  “  Harrison  County.  - 

Henry  Banks  320  Acres  in  Botetourt  County.  “  4630 


“  Taxable  Property  Given  in  by 
1.  white  Titheable 
15.  Blacks  Ditto 
4.  under  16  &  over  12. 


“  James  Kelly  ran  away  in  my 

debt  for  Rent  £.6.0.0. 

“  Land  Rents  for  1796. 

Miller  £20.0.0. 

Duff  12.0.0. 

Kelly  10.0.0. 


“  Negroes  that  are  mine  hired 
1796. 

Men  £  18.  Will 
“  18  Lewis 
“  18  Cymon 
Women  £  8  Sally. 

“  6  Betty 
“  8  Nancy 
“  3  Rachel. 


“  Negroes  hired  for  the  Estate  of 
2  Men  £40,  two  women 
1  Smith  £45 

“  Negroes  hired  for  E  :  Whiting 
3  Men  £60 


M'"  Prescott  Apr  y'  O'**  1797. 
1  Post  Chaise 
12.  Horses.  Land 


“Witness  Eliz:  Whiting. 


“Negroes  Hired  1796. 
2  Men  @  £18. 

£36.0.0. 

2.  Women  @  5.  &  6£ 

11.0.0. 

A  smith  @  £20. 

20.0.0. 

“  My  Dower  from 

£67. 

“  Balance 

£22.  5.8. 
£.44.17.4. 

“Negroes  of  my  Children  hired 

1796. 

Men  £  18  Great  Lewis 
“  18  Little  Lewis 

Women  £  6.  Alsy 

“  5  Hannah. 

“  Land  Rents  for  the  year  1797. 

Kelly 

£10.0.0 

Duff 

12.0.0 

Roper 

15.0.0 

Miller 

20  0.0 

H.  W. 

6  Women 

£48.0.0. 

45.0.0. 

£93.0.0. 

The  elegant  estate  of  Enlield  in  the  county  of  I’rince 
William  and  ITewington,  with  all  of  the  above  property, 
have  been  alienated  from  the  heirs  and  descendants  of 
the  family.  “  0  tempora !  O  mores !” 


136 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


In  a  letter  from  General  Washington  to  Mr.  Custis 
(“Recollections  of  Washington”),  Washington  agrees  to 
leave  the  valuation  of  some  property  in  King  William 
County  to  Colonel  Braxton,  “  a  gentleman  unconnected 
with  himself  and  Mr.  Custis,”  the  other  party.  Again 
writing  to  the  same  person,  he  says  : 

“  Aug‘  24‘>i  1779. 

“  You  must  have  observed  the  depreciation  of  the  paper  currency 
which  will  continue  til  there  is  a  stop  to  further  emissions.  Your  Sale  of 
the  York  Estate  to  Col;  Braxton  for  £20.000,  which  would  now  fetch 
£100.000  ;  this  sum  I  am  persuaded  would  be  refused  by  that  gentleman.” 

Again : 

“  Oct:  26*''  1779 

“  As  the  most  prudent  method  I  am  determined  to  sell  all  my  cattle 
that  have  not  had  the  distemper  and  get  those  that  have  had  it  from 
King  William.  The  distemper  has  killed  several  for  M*  Braxton.”* 

The  wife  of  Colonel  Braxton  was  Mary  Blair,  daughter 
of  John  Blair,  Sr.,  of  Williamsburg.  This  lady  was  three 
times  married,  viz. :  to  Colonel  Braxton,  Colonel  Burwell, 
and  to  Mr.  Prescott.  Kumerous  letters  attest  these  facts, 
e.g.,  one  is  addressed  to  “Mrs.  Braxton,  at  Kewington;” 
another  to  “  Mrs.  Burwell,  Bull  Run,  Prince  William,” 
and,  thirdly,  is  presented  her  signature  in  a  letter  from 
the  family  mansion,  Enfield  Farm,  “  M.  Prescott.”  Her 
brother.  Judge  Blair,  addresses  her  “  Mrs.  Mary  Burwell, 
in  Prince  William.” 

“FAtTQurBR  May  19**'  1787. 

“  Madam 

”  M*  Blair  of  W“*burg  wrote  to  me  some  time  ago  on  this  Subject.  I 
then  informed  him  I  had  M*  Braxton®  receipt  for  the  money  which  I  had 
paid  to  prevent  any  dispute  with  the  heir  of  M*  George  Braxton.  It  was 


*  Subsequent  to  the  late  civil  war  in  this  country  epidemic  diseases 

prevailed  not  only  among  cattle,  hut  sheep,  hogs,  and  poultry  perished  in 
large  numbers  during  the  years  1873-80. 


CllI.ONEL  UEOKGE  BUAXToN. 


COERESPONDENCE  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  137 


a  fair  Swap  I  made  with  M''  Braxton  for  the  horse  I  sold  and  did  not 
know  he  was  llie  property  of  M''  Whiting. 

“  I  am  Madam 

“  Yr  liumb  :  Ser‘ 

“Robt  Randolph 

“  P.  S.  I  will  enclose  yr  letter  to  Carter  Braxton.” 

“  Dr  Daughter, 

“  I  opened  this  to  see  what  excuse  M''  Randolph  would  make.  He 
paid  Braxton  only  to  stop  so  much  money  in  his  own  hands  for  the 
Land  M'^  B  :  owed  him  for.  A  pretty  excuse,  he  paid  M''  C.  B.  to  pre¬ 
vent  the  heirs  of  M''  G.  B.  and  can  that  he  the  way  to  prevent  Justice? 
I  have  a  letter  of  G  B®  that  says  he  was  present  when  the  Swap  was  made 
that  R.  II.  was  to  give  a  Black  horse  if  yr :  Brother  liked  him,  if  not  he 
was  to  pay  the  Price  he  sold  him  for  which  was  45  Guineas.  Shuffling 
is  very  much  the  vogue.  I  set  Lewie  off  at  7  oc.  Saturday  morn®  &  M' 
Dixon  and  his  Sister  met  him  at  four  in  the  afternoon  hut  13  miles  from 
this  place  and  then  was  riding  as  fast  as  he  could  go.  I  gave  him  a 
charge  to  take  great  care  of  the  old  Horse  and  that  is  the  way  he  per¬ 
formed  his  promise.  Tell  him  !'■  have  him  paid  for  it.  Poll  is  well. 

“  Adieu  with  love, 

“  M.  Burwell.” 

“Mr  Bushrod  Washington  of  Richmond, 

“  Sir, 

“  Inclosed  are  the  papers  I  had  selected  for  M"'  Lee  and  yourself  some 
time  past  for  the  defence  of  the  Suit  brou‘  against  me  by  M''  Braxton 
will  I  hope  be  sufficient  in  the  settling  of  the  Business.  The  trouble 
writing  gives  as  my  sight  fails  makes  me  wish  to  see  you  &  suppose  you 
will  attend  the  Court  at  Dumfries,  if  so,  beg  jou  will  let  us  hear  &  if 
Possible  I  will  meet  you,  unless  you  should  be  coming  up  to  this  neigh¬ 
bourhood  when  we  should  claim  a  visit  exclusive  of  Business.  M'  Pres¬ 
cott  is  not  at  home.  My  Respects  to  yr  Lady  &  hope  she  will  be  visiting 
her  aunt  Soon  that  we  may  participate  of  that  Pleasure  also. 

“  I  am  sir 

“  With  the  highest  esteem 

“  Your  mo‘  obliged 

“  M.  Prescott. 

“Enfield:  Prince  William  Cty  Va 
“May  9‘»  1793.” 

“  Near  Hatmarket  Prince  Wm  Cty  Enfikl  Farm 

“  Augt  24'*’  1794. 

“  Dr  Betsey, 

“  A  late  letter  brougt  us  the  sad  news  yr  Sister  Washington  was  taken 
with  a  Bilious  Cholic  two  hours  before  day  &  was  a  corps  before  night. 
Col®  Alexander  came  up  &  brou'  George  Dumfries  to  see  us,  he  &  Frank 


138 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


are  both  well.  They  are  in  want  of  Hatts.  Geo :  went  up  to  Smith® 
store  but  could  not  get  any  there.  Geo  :  told  me  M''®  Alexander  told  him 
to  bring  some  winter  Cloaths  down  with  him  for  next  month  wd  :  be  cold. 
He  says  he  has  only  a  winter  waiscoat.  Mr.  Clayton  says  he  is  gets  cloth 
for  the  Boys.  I"  write  to  him  ab^  it.  One  of  y"^  Letters  arrived  lately 
but  not  the  one  ab‘  B®  affairs,  that  I  supposed  is  lost.  My  D''  Polly  I 
am  truly  concern’d  at  yr  not  going  on  with  y’'  Musick.  Time  will  not 
wait  for  you  &  losing  it  will  not  do.  When  yr  Birth  day  arrives  I  shall 
celebrate  it  &  drink  yr  Health.  Miss  in  her  teens  will  be  remembered. 
In  the  Alexandria  paper  I  saw  the  Inclosed  advertisement  which  I  sent 
down  to  Mr  Clayton  to  make  enquiries  as  to  the  Price.  But  it  was  sold. 
DocP  Steward  bou*  it  for  one  of  the  Miss  Custises  and  gave  120£  for 
it.  This  was  a  sum  I  should  be  very  lotlie  to  give,  was  it  in  my  Power 
without  a  certainty  it  wd  not  be  thrown  away.  Do  my  D’'  borrow  yr 
Mamma®  humbrella  and  exert  yourself  in  doing  what  will  induce  us  to 
get  you  a  good  Instrument  and  we  shall  not  omitt  every  encouragement. 

I  am  sorry  to  hear  the  acct :  yr  Mamma  gives  of  yr  hating  writing. 
Poking  yr  head  and  not  minding  her  admonitions.  I  beg  my  D’'  Girl  I 
may  not  hear  these  things  of  you  again.  Geo:  claims  yr  Promise  of  a 
Guinea  &  half.  He  has  got  through  the  Grammer.  Col®  Alexander  does 
not  expect  to  keep  Murdoch  another  year.  The  neighborhood  has  recov¬ 
ered  its  usual  Healthy  State.  Poor  M’'  Baylor  has  lost  his  Daughter  Court¬ 
ney  with  a  putrid  Sore  Throat. 

“  My  Brother  (Judge  Blair)  got  overset  six  miles  on  the  other  side  of 
Dumfries  and  broke  the  Top  of  his  carriage.  He  receiv'*  a  slight  cut  on 
the  forehead  and  bruised  his  head  just  above  the  Temple,  ye  headache  fol¬ 
lowed  for  a  short  time  &  a  small  degree  of  stupor  lasted  somewhat  longer 
but  says  he  had  eaten  a  hearty  breakfast  and  hoped  to  forget  it  all,  tho, 
the  sun  was  likely  for  the  rest  of  his  Journey  to  make  him  regret  loosing 
the  shade  he  had  carried  with  him.  The  Docf  told  me  he  had  wrote  from 
Philadelphia  and  was  well,  long  may  he  continue  so.  I  find  by  the 
House  got  ready  he  must  have  been  told  of  Jenny®  Intention  before  he 
left  W“®burg.  Lewis  Whiting  is  at  Snow  Hill  and  hope  to  get  him  to 
carry  my  LetP®  down  and  hope  they  will  get  a  ready  conveyance.  I 
have  wrote  to  M’'  Page  once  more  for  the  Spinnet  and  think  it  will  do  a 
while  for  Polly  to  Practise  on.  I  am  almost  blind  with  writing  thus  far. 
God  Bless  you  all  &  give  you  Health  and  every  Comfort  you  can  wish  is 
the  Sincere  Prayer, 
of 

“  y'  ever  afiect®*®  mother 

“  M.  Prescott.” 

“  Dear  Madam, 

“  I  do  not  think  it  will  be  in  my  power  to  meet  you  at  Richmond 
neither  do  I  perceive,  at  present,  the  use  it  would  be,  to  accommodate  the 


CORRESPONDENCE  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  139 


business  between  us  and  your  Uncle  you  know  I  have  sent  once  to  Rich¬ 
mond  for  the  Ser*  and  shall  always  find  it  a  reluctant  business  to  run  the 
risk  of  being  again  duf>ed  by  the  plausible  subtility  of  the  Gent:  who  de¬ 
tains  him  neverless,  had  I  confidence  that  an  order  would  procure  him  I 
should  not  hesitate  to  send  again  Of  this  you  must  be  a  better  judge ; 
and  from  you  I  must  seek  information.  I  suppose  you  have  heard  that 
the  unsettled  acct®  between  your  Uncle,  Mamma  and  yourself  are  refered 
to  M''  Lacy  therefore  it  will  be  proper  to  make  this  Gent :  acquainted 
with  the  nature  of  your  claims.  If  they  can  be  stated  in  writing  it  will 
be  well  to  do  it  soon,  otherwise  they  will  wait  your  coming.  I  will  try 
to  procure  a  certain  Receipt  from  M''  Randolph.  I  regret  exceedingly 
that  Miss  Mary®  musical  pursuits  are  suspended.  Your  good  Mamma 
has  wrote  such  a  letter  as  I  am  persuaded  will  procure  her  own  Instru¬ 
ment.  I  will  be  equally  forward  to  get  a  good  one  when  our  young 
Scholar  has  made  some  progress.  There  are  reports  of  your  Cousin 
Neddy®  matrimonial  trips  over  to  Miss  Love.  I  feel  myself  very  sensibly 
obliged  for  the  polite  invitation  to  your  happy  habitation.  No  opportu¬ 
nity  will  be  lost  to  shew  your  good  Mamma  the  road  to  her  friends  in 
W“®burg.  I  earnestly  wish  when  that  happy  time  arrives  that  she  may 
appear  with  the  same  health  she  now  possesses.  The  carriage  being 
under  way  I  have  only  time  to  add 

“Adieu  R.  Prescott. 

“To  Mrs  Elizabeth  Whiting  wee  Braxton 
“  In  the  Mountain, 

“  Thursday  Eve 
“  Sept  ’94.” 

From  the  “  General  Catalogue  of  William  and  Mary 
College,”  published  1859,  appear  the  names  of  the  follow¬ 
ing  students  at  William  and  Mary  College  : 

George  Braxton,  1720,  King  and  Queen  County. 

Carter  Bra.xton,  1756,  King  and  Queen  County,  signer 
of  Declaration  of  Independence. 

George  Braxton,  1756,  King  and  Queen  County  (the 
last  two  sons  of  George  Braxton). 

George  Braxton,  1775,  King  William  County  (son  of 
Carter  Braxton). 

Carter  Braxton,  1777,  King  William  County. 

Corbin  Braxton,  1777,  King  William  County. 

Carter  Braxton,  1810,  Chericoke,  King  William  County 
(son  of  George  Braxton). 


140 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILA". 


The  letter-hook  of  Colonel  George  Braxton,  brother  of 
Carter  Braxton  and  the  husband  of  Mary  Blair,  contains 
interesting  data.  First  letter  : 

“  To 

“  Mr  Saml  Lyde, 

“  Mrt. 

“  London. 

“  Virginia,  Auajust  24*'“  1765. 

“Sir; 

“  I  have  shipped  you  two  Hhds  of  extraordinary  Fine  Tobacco. 

“If  it  should  so  happen  that  I  have  sent  for  more  things  than  the 
Tob"  is  sufficient  to  pay  for,  you  have  other  Effects  in  your  hands.  I  de¬ 
sire  then  you  woud  omit  sending  the  saddle,  Bridles  &  Books,  but  if  pos¬ 
sible  omit  nothing  and  jmu  may  expect  Effects  sufficient  to  pay  for  them 
in  a  short  time.  Let  every  thing  you  send  me  be  of  the  best  kind.  I  am. 
Sir,  with  compliments  to  your  intended  consort  &  your  Brother 

“  Your  very  ohed‘  hble  Servt 

“George  Braxton 

“  By  the  Nelson 

“  Capt.  Watson.’’ 


“  To 

“  Mr  Robt  Cart  &  Company 

“  London. 


“Virginia  Eeb'’J'  25,  1755. 

“  Gentlemen. 

“  On  Board  the  Baltimore  Captain  Randolph  I  have  .shipped  ten  Hhds 
of  Tobacco ;  they  looked  upon  here  as  good  stout  Tobacco  wh“  have 
thought  proper  to  consign.  Upon  them  you  have  inclosed  an  Invoice  of 
Some  Goods.  Be  so  kind  as  to  send  the  Goods  by  the  first  opportunity  to 
York  River  &  you’* 

“  oblige.  Gent : 


“  your  hum’’  serv* 

“  George  Braxton. 


“by  the  Baltimore 

“  Captain  Randolph.” 


“Virginia,  Feh^’  25,  1765. 


“Sir: 

“On  board  the  Baltimore  Captain  Randolph  I’’® shipped  eleven  Hhds 
of  Tob» 

“  I  have  drawn  on  you  for  Twenty  odd  Pounds  payable  to  John  Car- 


CORRESPONDENCE  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  141 


ter.  I  hope  you  will  do  Honour  to  my  Draught.  I  shall  remit  you  a 
much  greater  Quantity  the  ensuing  year  especially  if  a  favorable  season. 

“  Your  very  hble  ser* 

“  Be  cautious  in  purchasing  your  Garden  Seeds  and  get  them  fresh. 

“  To  Mr  John  Maynard 

“  Mercht :  London.” 

“ViROA:  1.  Nov:  1755. 

“  Messrs  Lidderdale  &  Starmer,  Bristol 
“  Gentm 

“  I  have  drawn  on  you  of  the  31®‘  last  month  for  200£  payable  to  the 
honble  Peter  Randolph  Esqr  who  engages  with  me  that  my  draught  shall 
he  paid.  I  have  also  agreed  with  him  to  ship  on  Board  the  Planter  Cap¬ 
tain  Aiseby  34  Hhds :  of  Toh"  consigned  to  you,  and  to  pay  you  interest 
for  the  mone}'  advanced  til  you  shall  be  in  cash  for  the  sales  of  my  To¬ 
bacco  &  I  also  engage  to  pay  dead  frght :  for  so  much  of  the  34  Hhds.  of 
Toh“  as  I  shall  fail  to  ship  in  the  Planter. 

“  I  am  Gent. 

“  Your  hble  ser‘ 

“  George  Braxton.” 


‘  ‘  Mr  Maynard 


“Virga  March  13:  1756. 


“Sir: 

“The  Goods  you  sent  me  by  Capt :  Baker  came  very  safe:  lucky  for 
me  that  you  put  your  Goods  on  hoard  ‘Baker’  instead  of  ‘Patterson’ 
for  all  his  Freight  was  damaged  and  many  hundreds  of  pounds  worth 
of  Goods  Entirely  ruined.  Your  honouring  my  Draught  to  John  Carter 
I  am  thankful  of.  The  Excessive  Drought  this  last  summer  and  spring 
will  disable  me  from  performing  my  Promise  of  sending  you  a  dubble 
Quantity  of  Tobacco.  I  believe  many  of  the  ships  this  year  will  stay 
pretty  long  in  the  Country  so  long  as  to  take  some  samples  of  our  Indigo 
Home.  For  my  part  I  get  such  small  prizes  for  my  Tobacco  that  I  would 
make  a  Tryal  of  any  commodity  rather  than  wear  my  negroes  out  in 
making  and  cultivating  a  worthless  weed.  The  Indigo  must  be  a  valuable 
commodity  when  it  sells  upon  an  avaridge  for  six  shill’gs  sterling  a  Pound 
as  the  Southern  Indigo  really  does.  I  am  prepared  this  j'ear  to  make  a 
Tryall  of  it  &  am  in  hopes  shall  be  able  to  ship  this  summer  or  early  in 
the  fall  a  Thousand  or  fifteen  Hundred  weight  of  such  as  will  procure  the 
Bounty  of  sixpence  pr:  pound  that  is  allowed  the  Carolina  men  wh”  I 
flatter  myself  will  be  granted  us  Virginians. 

“Your  hble  ser* 

“George  Braxton. 


“  I  desire  you*  send  me  a  good  cook  &  gardener  upon  wages  let  mo 
have  the  best  that  can  be  got.” 


142 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


“Messrs  Bosworth  &  Griffith. 

“  Gent  : 

“  Your  Letter  of  the  10"'  of  August :  56  came  to  Hand.  I  think  one  of 
such  a  stamp  enough  to  convince  me  who  I  had  to  deal  w"'  Gent  if  I  may 
so  stile  you  pardon  my  boldness,  you  mention  my  having  drawn  on  you 
for  a  sum  of  money  and  shipped  my  Effects  to  another  House  but  this 
you  say  without  foundation  for  I  never  shipped  Messrs  Stanbury  a  p*  of 
Tobacco  my  Days  and  what  he  had  by  the  Swift  was  ship'*  him  by  my 
Father®  Executors  I  wrote  you  a  letter  after  the  Swift  had  sailed  from 
hence  to  acquaint  you  that  those  Tobacco  I  did  propose  sending  you  were 
neglected  by  the  Capt :  indeed  I  must  own  it  now  does  not  give  me  any 
uneasiness  for  I’de  rather  pay  ten  pr :  Ct.  for  such  a  sum  of  money  than 
be  concerned  w"*  you.  Indeed  I  never  had  thought  of  it,  had  I  not  been 
overpersuaded  by  a  worthy  Gen"  who  had  he  lived  would  have  been  sur¬ 
prized  at  such  Behavior  from  persons  who  I  believe  he  entertain**  a  great 
opinion  :  a  man  of  means  you  likewise  tell  me  what  is  known  and  that  is 
that  my  word  should  be  my  Bond. 

•  ‘  ‘  I  am 

“  Yours 

“  George  Braxton. 

“I™  always  acted  to  the  best  of  my  Knowledge  consistent  w"' the 
strictest  Rules  of  Honour  &  Justice  w'*'  when  I  deviate  from  may  I  de¬ 
servedly  censured  and  rebuked  by  even  you.  “  G.  B.” 

“  Messrs  Lidderdalb  &  Harms r,  Bristol 
“  Gentlemen. 

“  I  doubt  not  my  Draught  for  200£.  Ster®  on  you  will  meet  due  hon¬ 
our  &  since  I  only  drew  for  little  more  than  six  pounds  p"  H**  hope  you* 
send  me  the  goods  I  now  send  you  an  invoice  of.  The  scarcity  of  Tobacco 
this  year  will  doubtless  greatly  increase  the  Price.  I  never  knew  it  bear 
so  great  a  price  w***  us  [as]  now ;  had  I  not  pre-engaged  to  ship  my  To¬ 
bacco  believe  I  shou'*  be  induced  to  take  the  great  offers  of  the  Merch*® 
here.  Send  my  Goods  by  the  first  Ship  as  they  are  for  my  negroes,  and 
will  be  much  wanting,  the  Goods  may  amt :  to  lOOjE.  Sg.  w°*'  1  flatter 
myself  (such  a  year  as  this)  my  Tobacco  will  pay  for  very  Easily,  but 
if  shall  fall  in  your  debt  shall  send  you  more  to  discharge  it  the  next 
year.  I  wish  the  Planter  safe  to  you 

“  Your  obt  hble  ser* 

“George  Braxton.” 

“  Virga  Dec.  IQ***  1766. 

“  Messrs  Cary  &  Co. 

“  Gentn 

“  On  board  the  Earl  of  Halifax  I  have  shiped  you  a  Barrel  of  Indigo 
mark**  G.  B.  No.  2,  qt  LIBS'*  wh :  is  allowed  by  the  best  judges  here  to 


CORRESPONDENCE  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  143 


be  equal  to  the  best  french  when  I  wrote  you  some  time  ago,  I  then  ex¬ 
pected  to  send  you  a  1000  or  1500  weight  but  not  being  so  well  acquainted 
w***  the  process  as  I  ought  faiF  greatly  however  if  this  small  parcel  an¬ 
swers  my  expectations  I  shall  be  satisfied  knowing  I  can  make  more  by 
it  than  Tobacco.  I  shall  have  Tobacco  ready  for  Capt :  Johnson  when 
he  arrives,  the  Invoice  you  have  inclosed  you*  be  pleased  so  to  let 
Arbuthnot  have  the  purchasing  of  the  woman®  cloaths  ;  inclosed  you  have 
a  Lef  for  her  w***  Directions ;  let  ’em  be  all  sent  by  the  first  Ship. 

“  I  am 

“  Gent** 

“  Yours  G.  B.” 

“  Mb  Maynard 
“  Sir, 

“  When  I  wrote  my  last  by  the  Earl  of  Halifax  I  forgot  to  mention 
an  Article  or  two  that  I  am  much  in  want  of  and  desire  you  will  send 
them  by  the  first  opportunity  to  York  River.  Upon  a  settlement  of  my 
Father®  Estate  a  few  days  ago  we  were  prevented  settling  his  English 
Accts :  for  want  of  yours  which  we  shou’d  be  glad  to  have  as  soon  as  pos¬ 
sible,  by  his  books  you  are  in  his  debt  which  Ball :  I  shall  take  upon 
myself  as  we  correspond  together;  looking  over  the  Books  I  find  that 
you  used  to  send  my  Father  and  Grand  Father  cargoes  of  Goods  to  dis¬ 
pose  for  you,  if  you  have  any  Inclination  to  try  any  adventures  of  that 
sort,  I  will  do  myself  the  pleasure  to  serve  you  upon  the  most  reasonable 
Terras  for  theirs  as  well  as  your  sake ;  if  you  should  be  inclinable  to  it  I 
would  advise  you  to  send  your  Goods  always  early  in  the  Spring  and  Fall 
then  your  Remittance  will  be  quick  but  you  must  expect  em  in  Tob° 
which  I  presume  will  be  of  great  vallue  since  so  many  of  our  Planters  go 
upon  making  Indigo  now  ;  I  sent  you  parcel  of  my  own  manufacture  by 
the  Earl  of  Halifax  who  I  hope  is  with  you  by  this. 

“  I  am  Sir  :  your  ob*  Humble  Servant 

“George  Braxton.” 

“  Virginia  July  2'*'i  1767. 

“  Messrs  Lidderdale  &  Co. 

“  Gentl  : 

‘‘  I  was  very  desirous  of  having  my  Tob“  to  an  early  market  but,  dis¬ 
appointed  by  not  having  a  ship  in  this  River.  I  have  kept  nigh  forty 
Hhds :  dead  waiting  for  freight  nay  I  ordered  to  be  insured  a  hundred 
on  board  the  True  Patriot  and  could  get  but  20  in  her.  I  am  heartily 
sorry  I  did  not  know  of  yr :  wanting  a  Command*'  for  a  ship.  I  would 
recommend  a  Relation  of  mine  that  has  been  used  to  the  seas  ten  years 
past  and  recom**  by  his  Master  Capt:  Watson  of  London,  to  be  a  com- 
pleat  Navigator  and  fitt  for  a  com**  His  name  is  M*'  Brooke.  He  has 
been  since  Watson  left  of  the  seas  Mate  to  Capt.  Talman  in  Cary  &  Co. 
of  London  Employ.  I  have  received  a  Letter  from  him,  wh****  informs 


144 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


me  he  believes  he  shall  get  a  ship  of  them,  but  as  I  could  wish  to  have 
the  pleasure  of  assisting  him  with  a  Loading  every  year  should  be  glad 
he  was  in  yr;  Business;  if  j’ou  can  provide  him  with  one;  advise  me  of 
it  and  I  will  dissuade  him  from  Entring  into  the  London  Business  ;  a 
ship  of  abt  a  Hundred  Hogsheads  will  be  large  enough.  I  have  shiped 
thirty  five  Hhds :  of  Tob®  which  be  pleased  to  insure  as  you  have  done 
the  rest  at  Ten  pounds  sterling  p''  Hogshead,  clear  in  case  of  accidents. 

“  I  am  Gent :  with  great  Esteem 

Your  obt  Hble  ser* 

“George  Braxton.” 

“Virginia,  July  28:  1757. 

“  Messrs  Liddkrdale  &  Co.  of  Bristol. 

“  Gentn 

“  The  second  Instant  I  wrote  you  &  desired  Insurance  on  thirty  five 
Hghs.  but  you  have  been  so  often  been  disapointed  in  receiving  my  Tob® 
that  I  hardly  Expect  you  will  make  my  Insurance  ;  however  that  you  may 
blame  Col®  Peter  Randolph  for  :  he  insisted  on  my  agreeing  to  ship  one 
Hund  :  Hghs  :  on  board  Capt  Randolph  but  when  he  found  he  could 
load  the  ship  w“'out  myne  he  resolved  so  to  do,  I  suppose  because  he 
new  I  was  under  an  obligation  to  keep  so  much  for  you,  but  this  is  the  last 
time  I  will  suffer  myself  to  be  so  treated,  therefore  expect  to  have  a  ship 
in  this  river,  that  I  may  always  be  certain  of  Prght  and  avoid  the  Danger 
of  having  my  Tob®  Damaged  in  going  round.  I  have  had  several  my 
Draughts  presented  to  me  for  taking  up  that  were  under  yr  :  protest  but 
no  letter  from  you  to  that  purpose  w®*"  a  little  surprized  me  but  I  reasona¬ 
bly  conclude  my  Bills  wou’d  not,  met  w“'  such  Pate,  had  my  Tob®  come 
according  to  your  Expectations  not  that  I  say  you  ought  to  have  honour'^ 
Em  but  that  I  did  not  doubt  you  wou’d  do  it  after  yr  letter  promising  you 
wou’d  endeavor  to  comply  w'"*’  my  Request.  I  am  sorry  I  was  obliged  to 
draw  for  more  than  you  could  supply  me  w‘'^  as  Ten  P’’  St :  is  a  heavy 
Burden  however  my  next  crop  I  hope  will  sufiice  to  discharge  ’em.  I 
hope  if  I  shou’d  renew  these  Bills  in  the  Fall  you  will  accept  ’Em.  In¬ 
closed  is  a  Copy  of  an  Invoice  sent  the  2“‘i  July  for  Goods. 

“  I  am  Gent® 

“  Your  obt  Hble  serv‘ 

“  George  Braxton.” 

“  Mr  John  Backhouse 
“  Sir  : 

“  I  have  sent  you  a  small  sample  of  my  Indigo  to  see  what  price  it  will 
bear  w**“  you.  The  weight  you  have  on  the  Box.  Inclosed  is  a  bill  of 
jading  for  my  Tob®  on  board  the  Otway  w®'’  I  heartily  wish  a  good  market. 
If  I  draw  on  you  for  any  money  shall  take  care  to  advise  properly. 

“  I  am  Sir  with  very  great  Respect 

“  your  ob*  Hble  Ser‘ 

“  George  Braxton.” 


CORRESPONDENCE  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  145 


“  Mr  Bacon  : 
“  Sir  : 


“  ViRGA  Sept  7“'  1757. 


“  By  the  Industry  Capt :  Younger,  I  received  the  Cargo  ship’d  as  per 
Invoice.  I  can  with  pleasure  say  they  were  a  Cargo  of  well  bought 
Goods.  I  mentioned  a  young  Gent"  in  my  last  one  Mr.  Brooke  as  a  very 
proper  Gent“  for  a  Capt“  if  you  won’*  make  Tryal  of  him  in  a  ship  of 
about  three  Hund :  &  fifty  or  four  Hundred  Hghs.  I  dare  answer  for 
him  he  will  please  j^ou,  as  well  as  induce  many  of  his  Friends  here  to 
correspond  w‘''  you  ;  he  is  a  near  Relative  of  mine  &  I  will  show  all  the 
Respect  due  to  so  honest  a  man.  My  best  Endeavors  shall  not  be  wanting 
to  procure  him  his  Loading  at  all  times.  I  am  well  satisfied  of  his  quick 
Despatch  from  Hence  when  ever  he  may  come  or  wou’d  not  so  strongly 
recommend  him  I  have  not  the  pleasure  of  seeing  M''  Gilb*  Franklin  since 
his  Arrival.  I  flatter  myself  I  shall  [have]  the  pleasure  of  entertaining 
him  before  he  leaves  the  Country. 

“  I  am  Sir 

“  Yr  Hble  Serv‘ 

“•  Geo.  Braxton.” 


“  ViRoA  Sept  I"*  1757. 

“  Mr  Maynard, 

“Sir: 

“Yr  Fav:""  of  the  10““  March,  by  the  Lydia  Capt:  Teaze  came  to 
Hand  safe  inclosing  Bill  of  Parcels  &c.  of  Goods,  as  well  as  yrs  of  the 
12“*  ult :  advising  the  unhappy  fate  of  the  Earl  of  Halifax ;  I  was  the 
more  particular  concern**  for  yr  sake  as  not  having  Effects  for  the  Goods 
you  were  so  kind  to  send  ;  be  assured  S'"  yr  :  genteel  Behavior  shall  always 
meet  w***  due  acknowledgements  &  the  most  grateful  Returns.  I  did  di¬ 
vide  my  Consignments  to  yours  and  Carys  House.  I  sent  for  some  Goods 
there  but  upon  hearing  the  fate  of  the  ship  they  refused  to  send  tliem. 
This  is  such  a  piece  of  Extraordinary  Behavior  that  I  resolve  to  trouble 
these  Gent“  no  further  w'**  my  Consignments.  I  therefore  desire  you* 
pay  off  my  Account  w“*  them  wh'**  is  but  a  small  Balance  as  per  their 
own  Acct*  you  have  inclosed.  I  have  sent  you  a  small  Quantity  of  In¬ 
digo  of  this  year’s  growth,  w'**  is  all  I  have  dry  enough  for  importation  (?) 
and  this  we  have  got  ready  w***  some  difficulty.  I  am  in  a  fair  way  for  a 
large  Crop  w'**  you  may  expect  by  the  first  ships  after  its  ready  dry.  The 
Quantity,  mark  &c  of  this  Indigo  you  have  as  per  Certifieate  inclosed, 
the  goodness  of  it  no  one  will  dispute.  I  have  sent  you  prime  Indigo  that 
you  may  sell  it  well  and  thereby  procure  yourself  many  of  those  Con¬ 
signments,  my  Endeavors  shall  not  be  wanting  to  give  you  yr  :  deserved 
Character  with  Regard  to  Indigo.  I  could  get  no  Frght.  for  Tob"  to  you 
this  year  neither  of  Brown  or  Hubbard.  Inclosed  is  a  long  Invoice  of 
Trifles  for  House  use  that  are  wanted.  I  shall  be  obliged  to  you  to  send 


146 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


them  by  the  first  ships,  if  it  wou'*  not  be  ill  convenient  to  you  to  do  it 
without  Effects  w‘’*‘  could  not  he  sent  so  soon  as  this  Fleets  sails  but  you 
may  expect  in  the  next  shiping. 

“  I  am  Sir, 

“  Yr  Hble  Serv*' 

“G-ko:  Braxton.” 

“  ViRQA  July  1760. 

“  Mr  John  Backhouse  :  Liverpool 
‘‘  Sir, 

“  I  rec^  your  Fav''  dated  the  22“*  Jani  last  inclosing  my  acct ;  currant 
and  of  sales  for  five  Hogs*®  Tob“  I  shou'd  have  sent  you  several  Hogsh*® 
by  the  Return  of  the  Monmouth  but  she  was  full  before  I  cou’d  get  them 
to  the  Inspection,  so  that  I  shall  be  disapointed  geting  it  to  you  unless  I 
can  hear  of  a  Liverpool  vessell  that  will  give  Liberty  if  I  can  you  may 
depend  upon  it.  I  confess  I  am  pleased  w**“  the  acct  of  my  last  five 
Hogsheads 

“  I  am  Sir 

“  your  very  Hble  Ser‘ 

“George  Braxton” 

“SepU  61. 

“Mr  Jno:  Lidderdale  Senr  Merch‘  in  London 
“Sir. 

“  Since  my  last  to  you  of  the  7‘''  Instant  relative  to  a  Horse  Mr 
Thomas  Roots  is  to  buy  for  me,  I  have  been  prevail*  on  by  my  Friends 
to  desire  a  very  fine  one  may  be  bought  wh“’^  is  imagined  will  pay  for 
himself  by  sooner  than  an  indifferent  one ;  have  therefore  determined  to 
do  it  if  you  will  be  kind  enough  to  advance  the  money  w***  possibly  may 
be  two  or  three  Hundred  pounds  sterR  tho  :  perhaps  much  cheaper  ;  but 
be  that  as  it  may  you  may  depend  upon  a  full  remittence  the  first  crop 
after  his  arrival  besides  allowing  you  interest  for  your  money,  I  shall 
esteem  it  a  singular  Favor  and  acknowledge  it  accordingly, 

“  your  very  ob‘  Hble  ser* 

“George  Braxton.” 

“Virginia  Sept  21®‘  1761. 

“  Dear  Sir. 

“  Since  my  last  to  you  of  the  or  9**“  instant  by  Capt :  Boyes  relative 
to  a  Horse  I  have  been  advised  by  many  good  Friends  to  get  an  extra¬ 
ordinary  one  of  Two  or  three  Hundred  Guinneas  price  that  such  a  one 
will  pay  for  himself  in  the  same  time  or  sooner  than  one  of  a  hundred 
Guinneas  price,  I  have  therefore  determined  to  do  it  upon  w**'  have 
selected  out  of  the  race  Books  (w“''  are  very  authentick)  a  List  of  Horses 
very  well  bred  and  ran  well  one  of  those  last  year  and  the  year  before. 


GEOKGE  liUAXTON  AS  A  BOY. 


CORRESPONDENCE  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  147 


Shou’d  be  glad  to  have  that  is  large  handsome  &  a  fine  Bay.  I  have 
placed  them  in  the  order  that  I  like  them  :  best  &  so  on.  I  don’t  doubt 

but  some  of  those  might  be  bought  for  a  great  deal  less  than  three  Hun¬ 
dred  pounds  if  Mr  Lidderdale  shou'*  seem  the  least  backward  in  leting  you 
have  the  money  I  shall  be  obliged  to  you  to  advance  it,  for  me.  I  will 
pay  the  same  profit  you  cou’d  have  made  by  it  any  other  way  besides 
always  hereafter  thankfully  acknowledging  the  favour.  However  send 
him  by  the  first  good  opportunity  &  let  him  want  for  nothing  to  bring 
him  over  safe  ;  insure  fully :  get  a  careful  Servant  to  come  over  with  him, 
and  the  man  you  are  to  buy  me ;  all  this  you  will  infinitely  oblige 

“  Dear  Sir, 

“  your  affect®  Friend 


“  To  Thomas  R.  Roots  Esqr. 
“  London.” 


‘‘  &  Hble  Ser* 

‘‘G.  Braxton. 


It  is  evident  from  the  above  letter  that  Colonel  Braxton 
was  a  lover  of  blooded  horses,  and  perhaps  also  of  the 
turf.  Another  letter  will  reveal  how  his  son  and  widow 
were  unjustly  dealt  with  by  a  party  who  got  possession,  it 
may  be,  of  the  horse  above  described  and  purchased  at 
great  expense.  Colonel  Braxton  proved  to  be  a  man  of 
extensive  business  capacity  and  of  large  wealth,  adding 
largely  to  his  “Hewington”  estate  by  the  purchase  of 
other  valuable  plantations.  In  “  Recollections  of  Mount 
Vernon,”  by  G.  Washington  Parke  Custis,  is  mentioned 
a  letter  from  his  guardian,  General  G.  Washington,  in 
which  he  says  that  he  considers  Mr.  Custis’s  sale  of  an 
estate  to  Mr.  Braxton  for  twenty  thousand  pounds  was  a 
sacrifice  of  the  property,  though  made  on  account  of  the 
cattle  plague,  which  all  efforts  had  failed  to  eradicate,  and 
occurring  in  the  midst  of  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  following  memoranda  concludes  all  of  the  copy  of 
Colonel  Braxton’s  business  letter-hook,  viz. : 

“  I  agreed  w^**  Alexander  Oliver  Gardener  to  make  a  Court  yard 
before  my  Door  according  to  Art ;  and  after  the  best  manner  I  shall  think 
proper,  that  he  is  likewise  to  finish  my  falling  Garden  w^**  a  Bolling  Green 
and  a  neat  Fish  Pond  and  that  he  is  to  make  my  Kitchen  Garden  agree- 

10 


148 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


able  to  the  rest.  That  I  am  to  allow  him  Three  Hands  and  give  him  forty 
Pistoles;  he  is  to  find  himself:  Bed:  washing,  victuals  and  everything 
except  a  Room  to  lodge  and  keep  his  Seeds  &c  in.” 


CHAPTER  III. 

EXTRACTS  PROM  THE  DIARY  OP  CARTER  BRAXTON,  JR  , 
IN  ENGLAND,  1788^9. 

About  the  year  1869  the  author  visited  Fredericksburg, 
Va.,  and  through  the  courtesy  of  Mrs.  Warren  Slaughter, 
to  whom  he  was  introduced  by  her  brother,  Major  Elliott 
M.  Braxton,  M.  C.,  obtained  permission  to  make  the 
following  extracts  from  the  second  volume  of  the  diary 
of  their  grandfather.  Carter  Braxton,  Jr.,  the  son  of  the 
signer : 

“  August. 

“  This  month  and  the  succeeding  one  are  the  most 
lonely  and  tiresome  in  London  of  any  in  the  whole  year. 
All  persons  who  have  the  means  retire  to  the  country, 
and  for  the  most  part  to  some  bathing  place.  Brighton, 
situated  on  the  seashore,  being  the  residence  of  the  Prince 
of  Wales,  receives  a  great  part  of  the  gay  and  extrava¬ 
gant.  The  taste  of  the  heir  apparent  for  pleasure  ensnares 
to  the  place  which  he  inhabits  a  crowd.  He  has,  more¬ 
over,  such  popular  qualifications  that  he  gives  delight  to 
all  who  are  near  him.  His  marine  pavilion  at  Brighton 
is  spoken  of  as  a  grand  and  elegant  residence  of  royalty. 
These  watering  places,  as  they  are  termed,  afford  a  much 
easier  access  to  good  company  than  is  to  be  had  in  Lon¬ 
don.  There  are  public  rooms  opened  every  night  where 
the  price  of  admittance  is  very  trifling.  A  few  days  since, 
at  the  request  of  two  gentlemen  and  the  instigation,  too, 
of  my  own  desires,  I  consented  to  go  with  them  to  Mar¬ 
gate  to  pass  two  or  three  weeks  from  town.  When  we 
were  at  the  office  to  take  places  in  the  coach  a  fear  that  I 
should  lack  money  crossed  my  mind.  I  wrote  to  my 
banker,  who  had  made  remittances  for  my  support,  to 


EXTRACTS  FROM  DIARY  OF  CARTER  BRAXTON,  JR.  I49 


send  me  one  hundred  and  hfty  pounds.  To  my  confu¬ 
sion,  when  the  servant  returned,  instead  of  the  money,  as 
he  had  been  accustomed,  he  handed  me  a  note.  The 
purport  proved,  as  I  conjectured,  an  absolute  refusal  to 
advance  any  money,  notwithstanding  he  had  several  hogs¬ 
heads  of  mine  unsold  and  unaccounted  for;  we  were  now 
square.  Never  was  any  mind  so  perplexed.  As  fortune 
would  have  it,  I  had  nine  guineas  in  my  pocket.  But 
when  these  were  spent,  how  was  I  to  acquire  subsistence 
in  a  foreign  land,  three  thousand  miles  from  home,  with¬ 
out  a  friend?  In  this  dilemma  prudence  might  have  ad¬ 
vised  an  abrupt  retreat,  hut  the  advantages  to  be  derived 
by  my  staying  in  England  five  months  longer  I  thought 
too  momentous  to  be  neglected.  There  is  no  situation  in 
life  so  awkward  and  xxnpleasant  as  borrowing  money. 
The  consequence  of  it  is  as  deplorable  when  coolness,  a 
breach  of  friendship,  or  an  eternal  malice  too  frequently 
comes  from  it.  I  therefore  shall  resort  to  an  expedient 
usually  practised.  I  drew  upon  a  merchant  in  whose 
hands  I  had  not  a  shilling.  I  carried  the  note  to  a 
banker.  lie  counted  it  immediately  at  the  rate  of  five 
per  cent. 


“  ‘  Sir;  6th  September,  1788. 
value  received,  the  sum  of  £50. 


“  ‘  Mr.  Blane,  Merchant, 
“  ‘  Walbrook.’ 


At  two  months  sight  pay  to  my  order 

“  ‘Carter  Braxton. 

“  ‘  Accepted, 

“  ‘  Thos  :  Blane. 


“  When  I  delivered  the  draft  to  the  banker  I  signed  my 
name  on  the  back. 

“  The  obstacles  to  my  passing  a  few  weeks  in  the  coun¬ 
try  being  removed,  I  packed  up  clothes  enough  to  last  for 
a  month,  and  made  the  necessary  arrangements  for  visit¬ 
ing  Brighthelmstone,  a  town  in  Sussex,  on  the  sea-shore, 
about  sixty  miles  from  London.  The  11th  of  September 
I  slept  at  the  Blue  Boar,  that  I  might  arise  certainly  in 
the  morning  early  enough  to  go  in  the  mail-coach.  This 
inn  is  perhaps  one  of  the  most  extensive  in  the  world. 
The  constant  noise  and  bustle,  the  rattling  of  carriages 
and  calling  up  the  drivers,  made  a  constant  din  through- 


150 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


out  the  "whole  night.  It  was  impossible  for  me  to  sleep, 
and  particularly  on  that  night.  I  had  a  very  high  fever, 
which  I  had  partly  brought  upon  me  by  the  extreme  cau¬ 
tion  of  a  warming-pan,  whey,  etc.  I  paid  only  one  pound 
for  my  passage,  and  three  shillings  for  my  trunk,  the 
coach  containing  six  persons ;  at  Charing  Cross  we  took 
up  three  more.  We  passed  through  East  Grimstead  and 
Lewes.  The  rapid  manner  of  travelling  prevented  me 
from  making  any  accurate  observation.  The  country  of 
Sussex  is  in  general  open  and  barren  of  trees.  There  are 
a  variety  of  extensive  downs  interspersed  over  the  face  of 
it  which  produce  delicious  mutton.  I  arrived  at  five 
o’clock  in  Brighton  and  immediately  met  with  my  friend, 
Mr.  ISTichols,  who  introduced  me  to  a  mess  of  gentlemen 
at  the  old  Ship  Tavern.  The  day  after  reaching  Bright- 
helmstone  I  was  contiirually  turning  my  eyes  rvestward 
over  the  sea  and  thinking  of  Br.  Johnson’s  repl}'  when  he 
was  carried  to  the  Castle  Hill  in  Edinburgh  to  enjoy  the 
agreeable  prospects,  ‘  That  though  there  was  a  fine  view, 
the  most  pleasing  object  which  struck  him  was  the  road 
to  England.’ 

“  On  Monday  morning  I  saw  all  the  company  pre¬ 
paring  to  go  out  to  the  race-ground,  where  a  stag  was  to 
be  pursued  by  the  prince’s  hounds,  and  curiosity  led  me 
with  the  crowd.  After  climbing  a  hill  full  a  mile  high, 
I  reached  the  ground.  A  large  concourse  of  ladies  ap¬ 
peared.  The  stag  at  length  ran  out  of  sight,  aud  the 
spectators,  wearied  with  the  diversion,  returned  to  town. 
The  pavilion  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  is  properly  described 
by  simplex  mundiiiis it  is  neat,  with  no  semblance  of 
pomp  or  grandeur.  I  went  through  the  stables;  the 
horses  are  the  noblest  race  of  brutes — there  were  forty. 
His  race-horses  are  kept  at  Hew  Market. 

^‘•Library. — A  band  of  music  plays  one  or  two  hours 
every  day.  There  is  a  diversion  of  rafiliug  very  com¬ 
monly  pursued. 

“  A  chalybeate — a  neat  small  house  built  over  a  mineral 
spring.  The  waters  had  been  analyzed  and  pronounced 
very  healthy.  Hard  by  there  was  a  sequestered  grove 
well  suited  to  the  plaints  of  Love.  Here  was  the  ap¬ 
pointed  place  where  vows  to  heaven  were  made.  Sea¬ 
bathing  is  enjoyed  in  very  great  perfection  at  Brighton. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  DIARY  OF  CARTER  BRAXTON,  JR.  151 

There  is  a  great  number  of  machines  ranged  along  the 
beach  for  this  purpose.  Sometimes  the  sea  is  too  rough 
to  bathe.  As  there  is  a  much  more  accurate  description 
of  these  machines  in  ‘  Humphrey  Clinker’  than  I  can 
give,  I  refer  the  reader  to  that  book. 

“  London. 

“  There  is  no  convenience  in  life  that  this  town  does 
not  aftbrd.  Instead  of  borrowing  books  any  longer,  I  have 
now  become  a  subscriber  to  Bell’s  Circulating  Library. 

“  November  5,  1788. 

“  This  day  has  been  much  celebrated  throughout  Eng¬ 
land  and  particularly  by  all  the  Whigs.  It  was  on  that  day 
exactly  one  hundred  years  since  the  landing  of  King  Wil¬ 
liam  from  Holland,  whence  the  people  of  this  nation  date 
the  rise  of  their  liberties  and  a  boundary  affixed  to  regal 
power.  The  cause  of  his  coming  was  [that]  upon  the  ab¬ 
dication  of  James  H.  the  right  of  William  to  the  crown 
was  [established]  by  his  marrying  Mary.  The  facts  are 
too  well  known  to  be  enlarged  upon  here. 

"  November  18. 

“  It  has  been  now  ten  days  since  the  illness  of  the  king 
was  made  public.  Whether  it  is  brought  on  by  abstemi¬ 
ousness  of  living,  which  he  has  long  observed,  or  whether 
by  the  Cheltenham  waters  he  drank  last  summer,  is  a  mat¬ 
ter  of  much  contention  among  the  faculty.  Be  it  as  it  may, 
his  mind  is  now  entirely  deranged.  He  knows  nobody, 
recollects  nothing,  and  is  completely  a  maniac. 

“December  13,  1788. 

“  In  consequence  of  an  invitation  from  a  lady  to  drink 
tea  and  play  cards,  I  dressed  myself  cap-a-pie  (?)  and  drove 
to  her  house.  There  were  several  carriages  in  the  street 
when  I  alighted.  I  was  met  !)y  the  mistress  of  the  house. 
Every  moment  there  were  violent  knocks  at  the  door. 
Some  looked  on  without  playing  cards.  Being  asked  if  I 
had  any  objection  to  play  at  whist,  which  I  never  have  if 
I  am  not  without  the  money,  the  mistress  held  a  pack  of 
cards  and  desired  me  to  draw.  Every  two  or  three  mo¬ 
ments  tea,  toast,  punch,  etc.,  with  a  variety  of  little  cakes, 
are  handed  about.  All  visitors  go  well  dressed  and  make 
their  first  obeisance  to  the  mistress,  who  never  plays,  but 


152 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


forms  a  party  wherever  she  sees  four  persons.  Thus  you 
have  an  exact  picture  of  a  Eout.  I  never  will  engage  to 
attend  this  stupid  species  of  amusement.  Every  coffee 
house  has  been  a  debating  society.  Mr.  Fox  in  Parlia¬ 
ment  asserted  that  an  incapacity  of  the  king  was  in  fact 
a  civil  demise,  and  that  therefore  the  heir  apparent  had  a 
right,  with  concurrence  of  Lords  and  Commons,  to  assume 
the  crown. 

“  Januarj’  10,  1789. 

“  The  winter  thus  far  has  been  a  remarkably  dull  one,  as 
well  by  reason  of  the  sovereign’s  madness  as  the  unsettled 
government  and  severe  frost.  The  frost  has  already  con¬ 
tinued  seven  weeks  without  intermission,  with  no  prospect 
of  ceasing.  The  streets  are  a  stratum  of  ice.  The  river  is 
so  hard  frozen  that  fairs  are  held  upon  it.  Both  town  and 
country  feel  the  want  of  water.  Such  is  the  inconvenience 
from  the  excessive  cold  that  the  watermen,  gardeners  (?), 
and  others  are  unable  by  their  habitual  labor  to  ac¬ 
quire  subsistence,  and  in  every  street  a  troop  of  them  is 
to  be  heard  proclaiming  their  necessities  and  imploring 
charity.  The  places  of  amusement  are  open,  but  they  are 
not  the  resort  of  the  fashionable,  who  refrain  from  the  fear 
of  being  [considered]  insensible  to  the  king’s  misfortune. 
The  lower  class  of  people  cannot  omit  their  Christmas 
plum  puddings,  l^^ew  Year’s  Day  has  been  hailed  with 
the  accustomed  joy,  and  hecatombs  of  turkeys.  The  pert 
miss  has  claimed  the  promise  of  mamma  to  have  a  little 
dance.  I  do  indeed  blush  to  acknowledge  that  seventeen 
hundred  and  eighty-eight  left  me  as  the  succeeding  year 
found  me,  busily  agitated  at  play,  planted  by  a  gambling- 
table.  Haggard  in  my  looks,  I  retreated  to  my  bed.  A 
dupe  to  hope,  I  was  squandering  what  my  kind  stars  had 
given  a  few  days  before.  I  arose  to  dress  for  an  entertain¬ 
ment.  I  collected  five  guineas,  which  I  resolved  to  hazard. 
After  the  tedious  process  of  dinner  and  drinking  healths, 
the  summons  to  cards  was  given.  I  lost  to  the  last  shil¬ 
ling.  I  reached  my  lodgings  without  the  means  of  pur¬ 
chasing  subsistence  for  the  next  day  or  knowing  a  person 
in  England  who  would  furnish  them.  W ork  I  could  not, 
to  beg  I  was  ashamed.  The  prudence  and  refiections 
taught  me  by  this  freak  of  fortune  and  delirium  of  mind 
are  too  deeply  engraved  to  be  soon  oblitei’ated,  though  in 


EXTRACTS  FROM  DIARY  OF  CARTER  BRAXTON,  JR.  153 


tlie  midst  of  its  distress,  it  will  effectually  cure  me,  I  hope, 
of  that  itch  for  play  which  if  indulged  must  ever  end  iu 
misery  to  its  votary. 

“  I  yesterday  called  with  a  letter  of  introduction  to  Mr. 
Alexander,  a  counsellor-at-law,  and  found  him  at  his 
chambers.  As  soon  as  he  observed  the  handwriting  he 
welcomed  me  most  cordially.  We  conversed  some  time  on 
American  affairs.  Mr.  A.  is  a  very  polite  and  sensible 
man,  highly  respected,  and  in  the  way  of  acquiring  riches. 
He  asked  if  every  citizen  in  America  was  not  a  soldier. 
I  answered,  ‘  I  think  Ave  have  no  reason  to  know  the  use 
of  arms.  Our  hardy  countrymen  on  the  frontiers  are  suf¬ 
ficient  safeguard  against  incursions  of  the  Indians,  and 
[we]  are  not  in  much  danger  of  being  invaded.’  I  has¬ 
tened  home  to  dress  for  dinner,  being  engaged  at  Mr. 
Price’s,  where  I  arrived  at  four  o’clock.  There  were 
many  persons  assembled.  The  feast  consisted  of  venison 
and  many  dainties,  and  was  garnished  with  excellent  Ma¬ 
deira,  claret,  and  port,  but  of  all  tilings  present  the  dean 
of  Peterborough  engaged  most  notice.  He  is  about  sixty 
years  old,  has  all  the  hauteur  of  a  bishop,  and  I’eally  de¬ 
lights  in  sensual  gratifications.  I  feared  some  indecency 
at  every  one  of  his  mouthfuls  of  venison  fat,  which  noth¬ 
ing,  I  am  confident,  prevented  hut  his  momentary  calling 
for  another  glass  of  the  old  Madeira.  He  has  foolishly 
married  a  young,  buxom,  handsome  woman  whose  every 
action  and  look  was  jealously  observed.  I  have  no  doubt 
but  he  mightily  repents  of  this  indiscretion. 

“In  compliance  vidth  Mr.  Alexander’s  invitation,  I 
dined  the  19th  of  January  at  his  uncle’s,  in  Queen  Square, 
at  half-past  four  o’clock.  As  soon  as  I  was  introduced  by 
the  servant  announcing  my  name,  the  young  gentleman 
Avith  me  pointed  out  his  infirm  uncle  and  eldest  sister. 
The  uncle  immediately  asked  me  if  I  was  the  son  of  Mr. 
George  or  Carter  Braxton,  for  he  had  formerly  knoAvn 
them  both.  Being  engaged  in  a  game  of  chess,  Avhich 
this  Avhole  family  is  excessively  fond  of,  with  a  Mr.  Trot¬ 
ter,  paymaster  to  the  navy,  he  returned  to  it,  Avhile  I  Avas 
introduced  to  four  Miss  Alexanders  and  a  sister  of  theirs, 
married  to  a  Mr.  Williams,  Avho  has  a  very  fine  daughter, 
her  only  child.  These  ladies  are  among  the  most  unre- 
serA'ed  I  have  known.  They  are  at  once  polite  and  easy. 


154 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


which  shows  them  to  have  been  well-bred  and  accustomed 
to  genteel  company.  Their  persons  are  graceful,  and 
three  of  them  very  pretty.  On  hearing  that  I  intended 
to  leave  England  soon,  they  regretted  that  they  had  not 
been  acquainted  with  me  before.  The  dinner  was  very 
elegant.  At  eight  o'clock  we  were  summoned  to  tea, 
during  which  ceremony  the  game  of  chess  was  still  kept 
up.  I  could  not  play,  and  had  a  further  opportunity  to 
converse  with  these  elegant  young  ladies.  They  had  the 
politeness  to  fix  on  the  7th  of  February  for  a  ball,  to 
which  they  desired  my  attendance.  I  am  really  in  love 
with  them  all  and  wish  heartily  they  could  be  prevailed 
on  to  visit  Virginia,  as  I  think  the  country  in  general 
would  rejoice  and  improve  from  their  acquaintance. 

“  Parliament  has  been  continually  so  crowded  ever  since 
the  debates  consequent  on  the  king’s  madness  that  I  made 
no  effort  to  get  in  till  a  day  or  two  ago.  I  attended  in  the 
Court  of  King’s  Bench  till  three  o’clock,  then  eat  a  basin 
of  soup,  and  after  it  planted  myself  in  the  lobby  of  the 
Commons.  The  doorkeeper  stretched  out  his  hand.  I 
slipped  some  silver  into  it  and  passed  on  to  the  gallery. 
I  sat  by  the  side  of  Woodfall,  the  man  so  famous  for  his 
uncommon  memory,  which  enables  him  to  report  the 
speeches  as  they  fall  almost  verbatim.  This  is  more  re¬ 
markable,  that  no  one  is  allowed  to  take  minutes  of  the 
debates.  The  Speaker,  Mr.  Grenville,  a  young  man 
twenty-eight  years  old,  appeared  at  four  o’clock.  Prayers 
were  then  read  and  the  members  waited  impatiently  the 
coming  of  Mr.  Pitt,  who  did  not  arrive  till  five.  The 
order  of  the  day  was  read.  Mr.  Pitt  made  a  motion  for 
addressing  the  Prince  of  Wales  to  accept  of  the  regency. 
Sir  Grey  Cooper,  in  a  very  lame  and  disagreeable  speech, 
argued  against  the  measure.  Lord  Belgrave  justified  it, 
but  with  much  more  confidence  and  assurance  than  abil¬ 
ity.  He  certainly  wants  genius  and  information,  though 
he  is  said  to  be  a  good  scfiolar.  Kext  to  him  in  point  of 
time,  only  far  before  him  in  cleverness,  arose  Mr.  Grey. 
He  was  easy  and  elegant  in  manner,  clear  and  lucid  in 
his  matter  and  arrangement.  Passing  over  a  variety  of 
speeches  much  worse  than  we  hear  in  common  in  the 
Virginia  assembly,  I  arrive  at  Mr.  Pitt  winding  up  the 
debate  and  concluding  a  speech  of  forty  minutes.  He 


EXTRACTS  FROM  DIARY  OF  CARTER  BRAXTON,  JR.  155 

spoke  without  once  repeating  a  word  or  any  embarrass¬ 
ment  from  want  of  matter  or  language.  It  is  impossible 
that  those  who  never  heard  Mr.  Pitt  can  have  any  idea  of 
his  eloquence  from  description.  He  is  clear,  bold,  and 
animated.  On  any  discussion  of  importance  the  House 
of  Commons  is  more  disordered  whenever  a  person  rises 
to  speak  than  the  public  room  of  a  court-house  on  a  court 
day.  The  opposite  parties  call  strenuously  on  their  friend’s 
name,  and  whenever  anything  disagreeable  is  thrown  out 
in  debate,  you  hear  the  groan  of  ‘Hear!  hear!  hear!’ 
issuing  from  all  corners. 

“February  8,  1789. 

“  Last  night  at  eight  o’clock  I  drove  to  Mr.  Alexander’s 
in  Queen  Square,  where  I  was  invited  by  the  ladies  to  a 
dance.  I  found  one  room  full  of  dancei’s  and  another 
crowded  with  company  and  card-tables.  As  I  had  been 
too  unwell  the  preceding  ten  days  to  venture  out,  I  re¬ 
solved  before  my  arrival  not  to  dance.  But  the  urgent 
entreaties  of  the  ladies  and  winning  solicitations  of  accom¬ 
plishments  and  beauty  routed  my  determination,  and  I 
soon  found  myself  standing  up  in  one  of  the  sets  with  a 
partner  who  had  been  procured  for  me.  I  resolved  to 
embrace  the  first  chance  of  quitting  and  seated  myself  at 
cards.  Every  ten  moments  the  servants  handed  about 
punch,  oseat  [orgeat?],  and  little  cakes.  We  ])aid  one 
and  sixpence  for  the  cards  we  dispersed.  It  is  called 
card-money.  AVith  the  same  propriety  a  charge  might 
be  made  for  negus,  wine,  or  supper. 

“  February  19. 

“  A  day  or  two  after  I  had  been  at  Miss  Alexander’s 
ball  I  received  a  card  of  invitation  from  a  Miss  Hunton, 
whom  I  had  known  at  Brighthelmstoue,  to  a  concert. 
Though  not  very  fond  of  music,  I  engaged  to  go.  Having 
arrayed  myself  in  my  best  garb,  I  drove  to  a  weekly 
club,  of  which  I  was  a  member,  and  played  at  cards  till 
half-past  ten  o’clock.  Then  I  made  my  entree  at  the  con¬ 
cert,  and  found  it  in  full  glee.  There  was  a  verj^  splendid 
assemblage  of  young  people.  After  supper  and  wine,  I 
had  the  honor  to  lead  down  the  first  two  dances  with  the 
young  lady  of  the  house.  I  then  resigned  her  for  a  more 
pleasing  partner,  a  Miss  Denizen,  a  lady  of  immense 
riches,  young  and  beautiful  and  sensible  and  gay.  In 


156 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


spite  of  an  excruciating  headache,  I  danced  with  her  till 
three  o’clock. 

“  I  have  now  the  satisfaction  to  say  I  have  seen  all  the 
various  amusements  which  delight  this  gay  metropolis, 
from  the  masquerade  and  hirthiiight  hall  to  the  servants’ 
hop  and  cider  cellar. 

“21st. 

“At  length  I  can  say  that  I  have  been  in  an  English 
church  and  heard  a  bishop  preach.  This  morning  at  eleven 
o’clock  I  found  the  way  to  a  charity  preaching  by  the 
famous  Dr.  Watson,  bishop  of  Llandaff.  This  famous 
churchman,  politician,  and  chemist,  on  the  text  “  that  the 
world  is  full  of  the  goodness  of  God,”  entertained  his 
congregation  with  a  better  sermon  than  I  have  ever  be¬ 
fore  heard  or  read.  He  began  with  telling  us  that  the 
only  ways  by  which  we  could  form  any  idea  of  the  good¬ 
ness  of  God  was  by  reason  or  revelation.  ‘  How  kind 
is  it  in  our  Creator,  when  all  the  rivers  flow  into  the  sea, 
not  to  allow  it  to  be  full  and  thereby  inundate  the  world. 
But  the  heat  of  the  sun  imbibes  in  vapors  waters  from  the 
sea,  which  are  again  showered  down  upon  the  earth  for 
its  nutriment.’ 

“  The  bishop  is  a  very  great  statesman,  and  is  no  little 
assistance  to  the  opposition  in  the  House  of  Lords.  His 
speech  on  the  Regency  Bill  is  among  the  best  that  were 
delivered. 

“27th. 

“  Wearied  with  the  tedious  life  of  idleness,  and  flnding 
that  my  longer  residence  in  England  promised  no  advan¬ 
tage,  this  day  I  came  to  the  determination  of  instantly 
leaving  this  country.  London  is  certainly  a  gay  and 
pleasant  place.  With  a  sufiiciency  of  money  a  man  may 
chase  away  the  dull  hours.  He  may  easily  obtain  access 
to  good  company,  and  enjoy  it  as  long  as  his  purse  re¬ 
mains  full.  But  once  emptied,  and  all  his  fancied  friends 
are  fled.  But,  after  all,  whither  do  these  pleasures  lead 
their  votary?  Will  they  prove  a  source  of  comfort  on 
reflection  ? 

“  March  10. 

“  Contrary  to  general  expectation,  and  to  the  disap¬ 
pointment  of  many,  the  king  is  now  recovered.  He  has 
appointed  a  commission  for  the  transaction  of  the  business 


HISTORICAL  DATA  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  157 


of  his  office.  This  day  the  lord  chancellor  by  commis¬ 
sion  made  a  speech  to  both  Houses  of  Parliament.  A 
general  illumination  was  made  throughout  the  kingdom, 
I  never  witnessed  more  extravagant  joy  or  so  grand  a 
sight.  The  whole  town  was  as  light  as  day.  I  rode 
through  the  streets  till  four  o’clock  in  the  morning,  and 
even  then  they  were  so  crowded  with  carriages  that  we 
moved  slowly  along.  The  expenses  attending  this  feu-de- 
joie  in  London  and  Westminster  amounted  to  two  hun¬ 
dred  thousand  pounds. 

“  The  three  gentlemen  who  were  with  me,  being  at  this 
late  hour  unable  to  obtain  beds,  went  with  me  to  my 
lodgings,  where  we  sat  up  the  remainder  of  the  night, 
entertaining  ourselves  with  lively  conversation.  At 
twelve  o’clock  the  next  day,  accompanied  by  my  valuable 
relation  and  worthy  friend.  Major  Claiborne,  I  drove  to 
Gravesend,  and  the  succeeding  day  at  eleven  o’clock, 
March  12,  1789,  embarked  on  board  the  Planter,  Captain 
Arthurs,  bound  for  York  River  in  Virginia.” 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HISTORICAL  DATA  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  BRAXTON 
FAMILY  DURING  THE  PRESENT  CENTURY. 

Rev.  C.  B.  Bryan  has  furnished  to  the  author  the  sub¬ 
joined  data  connected  with  the  Braxtons  : 

“  My  connection  with  the  Braxton  family  is  merely 
nominal.  General  Corbin  Braxton  (also  M.D.),  of  Cheri- 
coke.  King  William  County,  was  a  great  friend  and  favor¬ 
ite  of  my  father  and  mother.  lie  and  my  mother’s 
brother,  St.  George  Coalter,  married  sisters,  my  uncle 
marrying  Judy  and  ‘  Uncle  Corbin’  (as  we  called  him) 
marrying  Mary  Tomlin.  So  it  came  about  through  the 
intimacy  of  our  families  that  I  was  named  after  this  gen¬ 
tleman,  General  (and  Dr.)  Corbin  Braxton.  He  and  his 
wife,  Mary  Tomlin,  had  (that  I  know  of)  two  sons  and 
three  daughters,  as  follows  : 


158 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


“  (1.)  Jack,  mamed  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Allen  T.  Caper- 
ton,  and  has  issue.  He  lives  in  Hanover,  I  think. 

“  (2.)  Arraistead,  married  [Miss  Garlick]  of  Lynchburg. 
His  widow  is  living  and  has  issue,  sons  and  daughters. 
He  was  killed  in  the  lane  in  front  of  the  Clay  Hill  house, 
near  the  river,  during  the  war,  by  Captain  Blazer’s  men, 
he  being  with  a  party  of  Mosby’s  men. 

“  (3.)  Fanny,  married  Colonel  John  B.  Young,  lawyer, 
of  Richmond,  now  dead.  She  and  her  children  (live  or 
six)  live  in  Richmond. 

“  (4.)  Betty,  married  H.  Clay  Dallam,  lawyer,  of  Balti¬ 
more,  now  dead.  She  and  her  children  live  in  Baltimore. 
She  has  one  daughter,  married  to  an  army  otlicer. 

“  (5.)  Lucy,  married  Lewis  Hopkins,  still  living,  of  Bal¬ 
timore,  a  nephew  of  Johns  Hopkins.  They  have  several 
children. 

“  The  relative  ages  of  the  above  I  do  not  know.  Gen¬ 
eral  Braxton,  I  suppose,  would  be  between  eighty  or 
ninety,  if  alive. 

“  My  uncle,  St.  George  Coalter,  has  a  daughter,  Vir¬ 
ginia,  who  married  Mr.  William  Braxton,  now  dead. 
They  have  several  children.  She  lives  in  King  William, 
I  think.  Her  home  is  named  ‘  Stanley.’  She  has  a  son, 
Frank  Braxton,  who  lives  in  Birmingham,  Ala.,  from 
whom  the  addresses  of  the  rest  can  be  had.  Her  hus¬ 
band,  Dr.  William  Braxton,  was  near  kin  to  General 
Corbin  Braxton.” 

Major  Elliott  M.  Braxton,  ex-M.  C.  and  a  member  of 
the  Fredericksburg  bar,  and  married  to  a  lady  belonging 
to  the  Marshall  family  of  Virginia,  has  furnished  also  the 
subjoined  data : 

“Among  the  descendants  of  the  Braxton  family  are : 

“(1.)  Mrs.  Kora  Macon,  P.  O.  Old  Church,  Hanover 
County. 

“  (2.)  Dr.  Tomlin  Braxton,  Manquin,  King  William 
County,  Va. 

“(3.)  Mrs.  John  B.  Young,  Richmond,  Va.” 


Major  Braxton  adds : 


HISTOKICAL  DATA  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  159 

“  The  two  Braxtons  referred  to,  one  by  the  historian 
Campbell,  and  the  other  mentioned  in  my  grandfather’s 
diary,  were  father  and  son.  The  members  of  my  family 
I  think  most  likely  to  give  you  information  in  regard  to 
our  ancestors  are  Mrs.  N’ora  Mason,  P.  0.  Old  Church, 
Hanover  County,  Va. ;  Dr.  Tomlin  Braxton,  Manquin, 
King  William  County,  Va.;  Mrs.  John  B.  Young,  Rich¬ 
mond,  Va.” 

The  following  interesting  details  were  furnished  by  the 
widow  of  Rev.  John  P.  McGuire,  a  daughter  of  Judge 
William  Brockenbrough : 

“  My  great-great-grandparents  were  George  Braxton 
and  Mary,  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  Carter. 
They  lived  at  ‘  Kewington,’  on  Mattapony  River,  King  and 
Queen  County,  Va.,  and  were  buried  side  by  side  in  the 
church-yard  of  Mattapony  Church,  an  old  colonial  church 
near  ‘  Newington,’  which  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Bap¬ 
tists.  The  two  tombstones  are  in  good  preservation. 
They  were  the  parents  of  Carter  Braxton,  the  signer  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence.  The  picture  of  Mrs. 
Carter  Braxton  is  now  owned  by  Judith  Claybrook.  She 
was  the  first  wife  of  Carter  Braxton,  the  signer,  and  was 
Judith  Robinson,  a  near  relative  of  Speaker  Robinson,  of 
Revolutionary  memory.  By  this  first  marriage  Carter 
Braxton  had  two  children.  Mary,  the  elder,  married  Rob¬ 
ert  Page,  of  Broadneck,  Hanover  County,  Va.,  and  the 
ancestor  of  Judge  John  W.  Page,  of  Clarke  County,  Va. ; 
Carter  B.  Page,  Richmond,  Va.,  and  many  other  sons  and 
daughters  now  dead.  The  second  child  was  my  grand¬ 
mother,  Judith  Robinson,  who  was  born  the  day  of  her 
mother’s  death.  She  married  John  White,  of  King  Wil¬ 
liam  County,  Va.,  the  only  son  of  a  Scotch  clergyman, 
one  of  the  colonial  ministers  of  the  English  church.  Her 
immediate  descendants  were  few,  only  my  mother  and  her 
children  (Brockenbroughs)  and  my  aunt,  the  first  Mrs. 
Andrew  Stevenson,  and  her  only  son,  the  late  Governor 
John  White  Stevenson,  of  Kentucky.  Carter  Braxton’s 
second  wife  was  a  Miss  Corbin.  Her  children  were  Fitz- 
hugh  Braxton,  who  married  Miss  Ewing,  of  Philadelphia. 
They  lived  in  Henrico  County,  Va.,  but  he  died  early. 


160 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


leaving,  I  think,  several  clhklren,  but  his  widow  returned 
to  Philadelphia  when  I  was  too  jonng  to  know  her,  and  I 
lost  sight  of  the  fixmily.  Then  another  son,  George  Brax¬ 
ton,  who  lived  at  Chericoke  in  King  William  County,  Va. 
He  died  before  I  was  horn,  but  I  knew  his  widow,  my 
good  old  aunt.  She  was  Mary  Carter,  of  Shirley,  child 
of  j\Ir.  Charles  Carter.  Their  children  were  Charles  Car¬ 
ter  and  Corbin,  all  of  King  William  excepting  Cousin 
Carter,  who  married  Miss  Mary  Sayre,  of  Middlesex 
County,  Va.,  and  moved  to  her  home,  ‘Brandon,’  on  the 
Rappahannock  River.  They  moved  subsequently  to  Han¬ 
over  County,  Va.,  where  he  died  more  than  twenty  years 
ago,  and  his  wife,  a  most  excellent  Christian  lady,  died  this 
winter  (1889).  They  left  six  daughters,  five  of  whom  are 
married,  but  no  son.  Charles,  the  eldest  son  of  my  Uncle 
George,  died  many  _years  ago.  He  married  Miss  Betty 
Grymes,  of  Orange  County.  They  left  one  daughter,  Mrs. 
George  Carrington,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  and  Hr.  William 
P.  Braxton,  who  married  Miss  Coalter  and  is  dead,  leaving 
sons  and  daughters.  The  youngest  son,  Dr.  Corbin  Brax¬ 
ton,  inherited  Chericoke,  and  married  Miss  Mary  Tomlin. 
They  have  both  been  dead  many  years.  They  had  two 
sons.  Armistead,  the  elder,  married  Miss  Garlick,  his 
cousin,  and  fell  during  the  war  in  1864.  The  second  son. 
Dr.  Tomlin  Braxton,  married  Miss  Caperton,  and  still 
lives  at  Chericoke.  One  daughter,  Fanny,  married  John 
B.  Young,  a  lawyer  of  this  city;  Betty  married  Mr.  Clay 
Dallam,  of  Baltimore,  and  Lucy  married  Mr.  Lewis  Hop¬ 
kins,  of  Baltimore.  The  daughters  of  LTncle  George  Brax¬ 
ton  were  Mrs.  Garlick  and  Mrs.  Conrad  Webb.  Another 
son  of  Carter  Braxton,  the  signer,  was  Carter  Braxton, 
who  married  Miss  Moore,  of  Chelsea,  in  King  William 
County.  His  children,  as  I  knew  them,  were  Carter  M. 
Braxton,  a  lawyer  and  an  elegant  gentleman,  whose  first 
wife  was  Miss  Mieux,  I  think,  of  Middlesex.  Their  only 
child  was  Elliott  Braxton,  who  married  Miss  Marshall,  of 
Prospect  Hill,  Fauquier  County.  Carter  M.’s  second  wife 
was  Miss  Mayo.  She  was  the  mother  of  several  lovely 
daughters  :  Mrs.  Slaughter,  of  Fredericksburg,  was  most 
beautiful ;  Mrs.  George  Taylor  (Susan  Braxton),  Lizzie, 
Fanny,  and  perhaps  another.  The  only  son  of  that  mar¬ 
riage  was  Carter  M.  Braxton,  the  present  chief  engineer 


HISTORICAL  DATA  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  161 


of  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Eailroad.  Another  son  of 
my  Uncle  Carter  was  Augustine  Braxton,  and  then  there 
were  cousins,  Tom  and  Robert  B.;  hut  not  having  been 
very  intimately  thrown  with  any  but  the  descendants  of 
Uncle  George,  I  cannot  give  an  accurate  account  of  them. 
One  son  of  Carter  B.  and  Miss  Corbin  I  have  omitted, — 
my  uncle,  Taylor  B.  He  married,  I  think,  a  Miss  Corbin. 
Both  were  burnt  in  the  Richmond  theatre  in  December, 
1811,  leaving  a  little  baby  daughter  named  after  both 
parents, — Anna  Taylor.  She  at  first  lived  with  her 
maiden  aunt,  my  excellent  aunt,  Raney  B.  When  she 
died  Cousin  Anna  came  to  my  father’s  house  to  live,  and 
there  she  was  married  in  1830  to  the  late  Mr.  Charles 
Mason,  of  King  George  County.  She  lived  but  a  year, 
and  left  a  son,  Charles,  who  married  a  lady  of  Chillicothe, 

O. ,  and  lives  there.  [This  gentleman  is  mentioned  in  a 
former  chapter.]  The  daughter  of  Carter  B.,  the  signer, 
besides  Aunt  Raney,  just  mentioned,  was  Mrs.  Griffin. 
There  may  have  been  others,  hut  my  memory  is  at  fault. 
Of  Uncle  George  B.’s  grandchildren,  I  may  mention  the 
widow  of  Armistead  Braxton,  who  fell  in  the  war.  She 
was  Miss  Garlick,  a  granddaughter,  and  cousin  to  her  hus¬ 
band.  She  is  now  the  matron  of  the  Presbyterian  and 
Methodist  Home  for  old  ladies  in  this  city.  She  is  a  very 
tine  woman.  She  has  two  young  daughters  and  a  son, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  Memphis,  Tenn. 
You  will  see  that  the  poverty  of  Virginia  families  has  de¬ 
scended  upon  the  Braxtons,  as  on  the  rest  of  us.  I  may 
have  made  a  tangle  of  the  various  Carter  Braxtons,  etc., 
that  it  would  take  a  Philadelphia  lawyer  to  untwist.” 

The  authoress  of  the  above  graphic  and  interesting  let¬ 
ter  is  the  widow,  as  already  stated,  of  the  late  Rev.  John 

P.  McGuire,  for  some  years  the  principal  of  the  High 
School  of  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Virginia.  His  father 
was  superintendent  of  the  United  States  Arsenal  at  Har¬ 
per’s  Ferry,  and  his  mother  was  Miss  Little,  sister  of  the 
late  Robert  Howe  Little,  M.D.,  Millwood,  Clarke  County, 
and  his  son-in-law  is  the  Rev.  Kinlock  Relson,  professor 
at  the  Theological  Seminary  of  Virginia. 


162 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


Hon.  E.  M.  Braxton  thus  writes  from  Fredericksburg 
under  date  of  March  26,  1889  : 

“  Herein  find  enclosed  a  likeness  of  Carter  Braxton,  the 
signer,  taken  from  a  miniature  now  in  possession  of  Mr. 
Charles  Anna  Mason,  of  Ohio.  I  received  the  same  from 
Mrs.  Charles  Mason,  who  was  here  a  few  days  ago.” 
(See  ante.) 

Mrs.  Charles  Mason,  nee  Eandolph,  and  daughter  of  the 
late  Colonel  Jefierson  Eandolph  (grandson  of  Thomas 
Jefferson),  of  Edge  Hill,  Albemarle  County,  Va.,  thus 
writes : 

“  I  will  tell  you  all  I  know  of  the  history  of  the  Carter 
Braxton  miniature.  It  belonged  to  Mr.  Mason’s  first 
wife,  who,  you  know,  was  Anna  Taylor  Braxton,  whose 
mother  was  burned  in  the  theatre  in  Eichmond.  I  be¬ 
lieve  she  was  a  Corbin.  Mr.  Mason  always  spoke  of  it 
as  Carter  Braxton,  the  signer  of  the  Declaration.  The 
miniature  had  the  hole  for  an  old-fashioned  clasp,  evi¬ 
dently  being  intended  to  be  worn  around  the  neck.  Tape 
Corbin’s  wife  had  the  miniature  photographed  and  sent 
the  photographs  to  us.  The  Braxtons  of  Fredericksburg 
have  it.” 

This  lady,  Mrs.  Mason,  was  Maria  Carter  Eandolph, 
stepmother  of  Charles  Anna  Mason,  who  was  the  son  of 
Anna  Taylor  Braxton,  Carter  Braxton’s  direct  descend¬ 
ant.  His  mother  and  father  were  burned  in  the  Eich¬ 
mond  theatre. 

The  author  is  indebted  to  Mrs.  Ellen  J.  Mayo,  nh  Tyler, 
for  the  information  Avhich  first  gave  to  him  the  clue,  after 
twenty  years  of  diligent  research,  to  find  this  lost-sight-of 
miniature  of  Carter  Braxton,  Mrs.  Mayo  being  sure  that 
she  had  seen  a  copy  of  it  in  Westmoreland  County,  Va. 

Mrs.  J.  P.  McGuire  further  writes : 

“  I  remember  that  when  I  was  a  little  child  my  grand¬ 
mother,  Mrs.  Judith  E.  White,  had  her  father’s  portrait 
and  that  of  her  mother  (the  one  now  in  possession  of  J. 


HISTORICAL  DATA  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  163 


W.  Claybrook)  banging  on  her  wall.  They  were  then 
collecting  the  portraits  of  the  signers  to  be  copied  for  In¬ 
dependence  Hall,  Philadelphia.  She  was  written  to  for 
her  father’s,  and  sent  it,  with  the  promise  that  it  should 
be  returned  as  soon  as  copied.  The  only  account  she  got 
of  it  was  that  it  had  been  burned  in  some  house  in  which 
it  had  been  deposited  with  others.  N’ow,  it  Avould  be  a 
great  comfort  to  have  the  miniature  photographed.  Where 
did  this  miniature  come  from  ?  Please  ask  Dr.  Iloriier  ? 
The  book  will  doubtless  be  very  highly  valued  by  the 
Braxton  descendants.” 

Rev.  George  Braxton  Taylor,  who  married  Miss  Cabell, 
of  N'orwood,  ISTelson  County,  Va.,  and  now  resides  at 
Chapel  Hill,  H.  C.,  thus  Avrites  : 

“  This  is  my  sister’s  address  :  ‘  Miss  Mary  Argyle  Tay¬ 
lor,  care  of  Dr.  G.  B,  Taylor,*  52  Via  Giulio  Romano, 
Rome,  Italj’.’  I  have  no  genealogical  lists  of  my  family 
and  others,  Avhich  you  have  doubtless  already  obtained 
from  my  uncle,  E.  M.  Braxton,  Esq.,  of  Fredericksburg, 
Ya.  If  you  desire  names  of  my  brothers  and  sisters,  I 
shall  be  glad  to  send  them.  Susan  Braxton,  the  second 
daughter  of  Carter  M.  Braxton,  grandson  of  the  signer, 
married  a  Baptist  preacher.  Dr.  George  B.  Taylor,  Avho' 
stood  high  in  his  church  and  Avho  Avas  sent  as  missionary 
to  Rome.  She  died  in  Rome  many  years  ago,  and  left 
children,  among  Avhom  are  ReA^  George  Braxton  Taylor 
and  Mary  Argyle  Taylor.” 

In  a  previous  chapter  it  VA^as  stated,  on  the  authority  of 
Major  E.  M.  Braxton,  ex-M.  C.,  that  the  diary  Avas  from 
the  pen  of  his  grandfather.  Carter  Braxton,  Jr.,  son  of  the 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Hence,  the 
question  is  noAv  settled  that  the  Braxton  family  have  no 
diary  in  their  possession  of  Carter  Braxton,  the  signer  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Mrs.  Henrietta  Braxton 
Horner  Wyeth,  of  Philadelphia,  Fehruary  27, 1890,  Avrites : 


*  “  Anno  1891,  Annuario  Evangelico,”  page  32 :  “  Unione  Christiano 
Apostolico  Battista,  Sig.  Dott.  G.  B.  Taylor,  Presidente.” 

11 


164 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


“  I  found  a  treasure  for  you,  viz. :  a  lovely  picture  of 
‘  Xewiugtoii,’  the  residence  of  the  Braxtons,  in  King  and 
Queen  County,  Va,  Mr.  Chai’les  Hart,  historiographer 
of  the  Kumismatic  and  Antiquarian  Society  of  Philadel- 
p^hia,  presented  it  to  me.  I  thought  it  to  be  lost  iu  our 
moving  from  Pine  Street ;  it  is  too  precious  a  relic  to  be 
sent  you  by  mail,  hut  I  will  bring  it  to  you.” 

“  Kewington”  was  built  by  George  Braxton,  who  came 
to  the  colony  of  Virginia  early  in  the  eighteenth  century. 
His  son,  George  Braxton,  Mrs.  Wyeth’s  great-great¬ 
grandfather,  inherited  the  property,  which,  like  most 
Southern  estates,  has  been  lost  to  the  Braxtons. 

Among  living  representatives  (1890)  of  the  Braxton 
family  are : 

Charles  Carter  Braxton,  Birmingham,  Ala. 

F.  C.  Braxton,  Birmingham,  Ala. 

The  latter  married  Miss  Kellie  Lackland,  of  Jefferson 
County,  Va. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Dew,  nee  Miss  Bettie  Braxton,  Honaker,  Rus¬ 
sell  County,  Va. 

Miss  Susan  Grymes  Braxton,  “  Old  Church,”  Hanover 
County,  Va. 

The  children  of  Charles  Braxton  are : 

Galt  Braxton. 

Gay  Braxton. 

The  one  child  of  Dr.  William  P.  Braxton,  Old  Church, 
Hanover  County,  Va.,  is  P.  C.  Braxton,  Old  Church, 
Hanover  County,  Va. 

Tomlin  Braxton,  M.D.,  Chericoke,  Falls  P.  0.,  King 
William  County,  Va.,  thus  writes: 

“  I  have  long  desired  to  know  more  of  your  great-grandfather,  George 
Braxton,  the  second  George.  I  never  knew  until  your  letter  came  that 
he  was  ever  married,  and  am  delighted  now  to  learn  from  you  more  about 
it.  I  knew  we  were  related,  but  always  thought  it  was  through  one  of 
the  two  daughters  of  the  old  signer  by  his  first  marriage,  in  the  same  way 
that  I  am  related  to  the  Whitings,  of  Clarke  County,  Va.,  and  to  the 


HISTORICAL  DATA  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  165 


Stephensons,  of  Kentucky.  I  hope  to  learn  all  of  this  and  more  from 
your  hook.  I  know  nothing  of  the  family  before  George  Braxton  left 
England.  I  have  always  heard  that  he  was  a  native  of  Wales.  I  have 
no  letters  relating  to  the  family,  and  have  only  at  home  (Chericoke)  a 
transcript  from  grandma’s  family  Bible  at  Hybla,  which  amounts  to  very 
little,  which  I  will  look  up  on  my  return  early  in  October  and  send  you. 
Of  Newington  I  may  be  able  to  learn  more  than  I  now  know  by  visiting 
King  and  Queen,  which  I  will  very  gladly  do  for  your  and  my  own 
satisfaction,  too.  The  place  was  the  residence  of  George  (first).  There 
Great-grandfather  George  (second)  was  horn  and  my  great-grandfather, 
the  signer,  also.  All  my  life  the  place  has  been  occupied  by  a  family  of 
Harwoods,  and  has  been  kept  in  good  repair  up  to  fifteen  years  ago. 
Since  then  I  know  nothing  of  it.  ‘  Elsing  Green,’  on  the  Pamunkey, 
was  built  for  the  signer  during  his  absence  in  England  at  Cambridge,* 
and  was  burnt  before  he  occupied  it.  ’Twas  being  rebuilt  at  the  time  of 
his  return  upon  the  original  walls.  He  completed  it,  did  not  like  it,  and 
sold  it  to  Count  Brown,  of  England,  and  built  himself  a  large  establish¬ 
ment  at  Chericqke,  twelve  miles  higher  up  the  river.  This  house 
was  burned  down  during  his  sojourn  in  Philadelphia,  while  a  member 
of  Congress.  On  his  return  he  resided  in  the  city  of  Richmond,  where 
he  died,  and  was  buried  at  Chericoke,  where,  also,  were  buried  his 
two  wives ;  hut  no  gravestones  mark  the  spot,  as  they  do  in  the  grave¬ 
yard  at  Newington.  My  own  grandfather,  George  (third),  inherited 
Chericoke,  the  King  William  property,  he  being  the  signer’s  oldest  son, 
from  his  father.  Grandpa  left  three  sons  and  two  daughters.  Uncle 
Charles  Hill  Braxton  married  Bett  Grymes,  a  sister  of  the  great  lawyer, 
John  Grymes,  of  New  Orleans.  Afterwards  he  left  two  children,  a 
daughter,  now  very  old,  a  Mrs.  George  M.  Carrington,  of  Richmond 
city,  and  a  son.  Dr.  VV'illiam  P.  Braxton,  who  married  a  Miss  Coalter, 
granddaughter  of  John  Coalter,  judge  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  this 
State.  He  left  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  He  lived  at  Oak  Spring,  a 
portion  of  the  King  William  property  already  mentioned.  The  second 
son.  Carter  Braxton,  married  Mary  Sayre,  of  Brandon,  Middlesex  County, 
Va.,  she  getting  the  magnificent  estate  from  her  grandfather,  Philip 
Ludwell  Grymes.  Late  in  life  Uncle  Carter  sold  this  place  and  removed 
to  Hanover  County,  buying  there  a  farm,  and  erected  a  mansion,  and 
there  lived  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life.  This  place  was  Ingle- 
side,  and  is  still  in  the  hands  of  his  family.  He  left  six  daughters,  all  of 
whom  are  married  except  one,  now  of  some  forty-odd  summers.  My 
father,  Corbin  Braxton,  third  son,  lived  at  Chericoke,  bujung  all  the  in- 


*  The  fact  mentioned  by  Dr.  Braxton,  that  the  signer  was  at  Cam¬ 
bridge  University,  is  important,  since  no  biographer  or  historian  has 
referred  to  it 


166 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILA". 


terests  therein  except  Uncle  Charles’s.  He  married  Mary  Tomlin,  of 
Hanover,  and  left  five  children, — two  sons  and  three  daughters.  My 
brother  married  Miss  Garlick,  his  cousin  ;  he  was  killed  during  the  war, 
and  left  one  son  and  three  daughters.  I  married  Miss  Caperton,  of  Mon¬ 
roe,  now  West  Virginia,  a  daughter  of  the  late  Hon.  A.  J.  Caperton,  and 
have  five  children, — three  sons  and  two  daughters, — none  of  whom  are 
married.  My  eldest  sister,  Fanny,  married  Colonel  John  B.  T'oung,  of 
the  Richmond  bar,  and  has  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  live 
in  Richmond,  except  one  daughter,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  this  place. 
My  second  sister,  Betty,  married  the  late  Judge  H.  Clay  Dallam,  Balti¬ 
more.  Three  sons  and  one  daughter  were  the  issue  of  this  marriage  ;  the 
daughter  only  is  married,  her  husband  being  Lieutenant  John  Bigelow, 
U.  S.  A.  My  third  sister,  Lucy  Tomlin,  married  Lewis  Hopkins.  They 
have  one  son  and  two  daughters,  still  infants.  My  father’s  eldest  sister, 
Mary  Carter,  married  Samuel  Garlick,  of  King  and  Queen.  They  left  a 
son,  Braxton,  who  married  a  Miss  Mary  Webb  and  died,  leaving  a  son 
and  four  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  my  brother,  William  Armis- 
tead,  whose  name  I  neglected  to  give,  and  one  married  the  late  Francis 
A.  Dickens,  of  Alexandria,  Va. ,  and  two  are  single.  The  son  married 
and  is  childless.  The  second  daughter,  Georgiana,  married  Conrad  Webb, 
of  Hampstead,  and  died  childless.  Grandpa  was  the  signer’s  oldest 
son.  Then  followed  Granduncles  Carter,  Corbin,  Taylor,  and  Fitzhugh. 
Uncle  Carter  married  Miss  Moore,  of  Chelsea,  and  left  four  sons  and  two 
daughters.  His  sons  were :  Carter,  whose  descendants  are  living  in  Fred¬ 
ericksburg,  Ya. ;  Hon.  E.  M.  Braxton  is  one;  Carter  Braxton,  Newport 
News,  is  another.  Augustin  married;  had  a  daughter,  who  married  Mr. 
Hudgins,  Mathews  County,  Va. ;  he  afterwards  married  a  Widow  Wash¬ 
ington,  of  Caroline  County,  Va.  The  third  son,  Thomas,  married  a  Miss 
Davis,  sister  of  the  late  Professor  Staige  Davis,  University  of  Virginia. 
He  left  two  sons,  John  and  Tom,  and  one  daughter.  The  former  married  a 
Miss  Powell,  sister  of  Dr.  Powell,  of  Henrico  County,  Va.  He  has  a  son 
and  two  daughters.  Thomas,  the  other  son,  married  a  Miss  Plumer,  of 
Richmond  County,  and  left  a  son,  Albert,  of  Indian  Territory,  and  a 
daughter,  now  a  Mrs.  Edmonds,  of  this  place.  She  has  two  daughters  and 
a  son.  The  daughter,  Lucy,  married  Rev.  Dr.  Garland  and  left  many  chil¬ 
dren.  Robert  Carter,  fourth  son,  married  Miss  Gales,  Matthews  County, 
and  left  three  sons.  Robert  married  Miss  Gillam  and  left  several  children, 
all  of  whom  live  in  Richmond.  Augustine  married  and  lives  in  Richmond. 
Corbin,  unmarried,  has  a  truck  farm  near  Richmond.  The  two  sisters  of 
the  aforementioned  four  gentlemen  were  respectively  [married],  first,  to 
Colonel  Henry,  Mount  Pleasant,  King  and  Queen  County,  leaving  three 
sons, — James,  Samuel,  and  William  Henry.  The  first  married  Miss 
Row,  King  and  Queen  County ;  second.  Miss  Powell,  sister  of  Hon. 
Douglas  S.  Powell;  and  William  Henry  married  his  cousin.  Miss  Dain- 


HISTORICAL  DATA  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  167 


gerfield,  daughter  of  his  mother's  sister,  who  married  a  Mr.  Daingerfield 
and  left  a  son  and  three  daughters.  Corbin  Braxton,  signer’s  third  son, 
died  a  bachelor.  Taj-lor,  fourth  son,  married  Miss  Moore,  of  Chelsea, 
and  [both]  were  burned  in  the  theatre  at  Richmond,  1812,  leaving  an 
only  child,  Anna,  who  was  raised  by  Grandma  Braxton,  and  married 
Charles  Mason,  King  George  County,  Va.,  and  died,  leaving  one  son, 
Charles  Anna,  who  married  in  Chillicothe,  0.,*  and  lives  there.  Fitz- 
hugh,  fourth  and  last  son,  married  in  Philadelj)hia  and  left  two  sons, 
Israel  and  Fitzhugh,  in  California.  My  oldest  sons,  Allen  Caperton  and 
Hugh  Caperton,  are  lawyers  of  Staunton,  Va.  My  third  son.  Carter, 
will  go  to  the  University  of  Virginia  to  study  law. 

“  Very  truly  yours, 

“  T.  Braxton.” 

The  interesting  narrative  contained  in  Dr.  T.  Braxton’s 
letters  may  be  continued.  He  says  : 

“  The  family  Bible  records  were  destroyed  in  the  Chericoke  house  by 
fire  when  my  great-grandfather  was  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress. 
‘  Newington’  is  in  good  repair  and,  as  stated,  is  owned  by  the  Harwoods ; 
it  is  on  the  north  bank  of  Mattapony  River  and  some  twelve  miles  above 
West  Point  by  land  and  twenty  miles  by  the  river.  Colonel  Carter 
Braxton,  C.  S.  A.,  was  not  killed  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  [but] 
is  a  prosperous  engineer,  now  residing  at  Newport  News,  Va.  He  is  the 
younger  brother  of  Major  E.  M.  Braxton,  ex-M.  C. ;  he  at  first  com¬ 
manded  a  battery  (Fredericksburg,  I  think)  and  served  during  the  war 
with  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia.  I  cannot  refer  you  to  a  history 
containing  a  copy  of  the  Carter  Braxton  address  delivered  to  the  people 
of  America  prior  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Newington,  I 
failed  to  mention,  is  a  wooden  structure.  Newington  Church  is  near  by. 
West  Point  the  nearest  town.  I  know  only  certainly  of  the  tombs  that 
are  there, — George,  first  B.,  and  wife.  I  have  a  vague  idea  that  your 
great-grandfather,  George,  second  B.,  is  buried  there, — will  inform  you 
when  I  visit  the  place, — about  thirty  miles  from  both  Richmond  and 
Williamsburg,  Va. 

“  My  father,  Corbin  Braxton,  was  descended  from  the  second  wife  of 
the  signer,  hence  his  name,  as  did  all  those  having  the  name  of  Braxton. 
By  signer’s  first  wife  there  was  no  male  issue,  only  two  daughters,  from 
whom  are  descended  the  Stephensons  and  others.  My  father  was  a  M.  D. 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  ;  was  never  a  student  of  William  and 
Mary.  My  uncle.  Carter  Braxton,  was  an  alumnus  of  that  ancient  insti¬ 
tution.  My  brother,  William  Armistead  Braxton,  whom  you  so  gener- 


*  Referred  to  in  former  chapter. 


168 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


ously  call  the  ‘gallant  soldier,’  was  the  one  who  fell  near  ‘  Clay  Hill’  in 
Clarke  County,  Va.” 

]\Irs.  Frank  Houston  Wyeth  {vee  Henrietta  Braxton 
Horner)  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Colonel  George  Brax¬ 
ton,  Jr.,  and  of  Mary  (Blair)  Braxton;  daughter,  also,  of 
Richard  B.  Horner  and  Mary  Blair  (Little)  Horner,  of 
Marshall,  Fauquier  County,  Ya.,  and  the  wife  of  Fran¬ 
cis  H.  Wyeth,  of  the  Avorld-renowned  tirm  of  John  Wyeth 
&  Bros.,  of  Philadelphia.  As  stated  in  the  Horner- Brown 
genealogy,  she  was  married  in  Philadelphia,  February 
20,  1861,  and  has  continued  to  reside  in  that  city,  save 
when  abroad.  Mrs.  Wyeth  has  made  three  extensive  tours 
in  Europe, — first,  in  1878,  with  her  husband ;  second,  in 
1880,  with  her  two  sons,  having  a  courier,  Mr.  Linden- 
wald.  On  this  occasion  she  visited  all  the  chief  cities  of 
Europe;  and  again  in  1892,  in  company  Avith  her  husband 
and  sister.  Miss  Elizabeth  Moore  Horner,  she  started  on 
hoard  the  Lahn,  a  Horddeutscher  Lloyd  Bremen  steamer, 
to  visit  the  Horth  Cape  and  the  Fiords  of  Horway  and  to 
witness  the  Midnight  Sun  of  that  latitude.  In  midsummer, 
Avhen  not  abroad,  her  summers  are  spent  at  ISTewport,  R.  L, 
or  at  ‘  Mountain  View,’  a  summer  residence,  and  during 
the  Avinter  at  Jacksonville,  Fla.  Mrs.  Wyeth  has  been 
the  most  adventurous  female  tourist  of  the  Braxton-Blair- 
Horner  connection.  Miss  Mary  Argyle  Taylor,  Avhose 
mother  Avas  a  Braxton  and  whose  letters  have  been  given 
to  the  reader,  still  resides  at  Rome,  Italy.  Mrs.  Agnes 
(Horner)  Buschback  is  noAv  resident  at  Florence,  Italy. 
The  descendants  of  Mrs.  Admiral  Thompson  (Sarah 
Blair), — also  referred  to  in  the  Blair  correspondence  of 
this  volume  as  married  to  a  British  naval  officer, — con¬ 
tinue  to  reside  in  England,  though  the  author  is  unable  to 
trace  them,  and  are  conspicuous  in  English  society,  as  Avell 
as  English  history,  as  she  had  two  sons  in  the  army  and 
navy  of  Great  Britain,  whose  duties  Avould  involve  change 


HENRIETTA  BRAXTON  HORNER  WYETH. 


HISTORICAL  DATA  OF  THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY.  169 


of  residence  and  travel  to  themselves  and  families  on  the 
Continent  and  in  foreign  lands.  Mrs.  Wyeth  was  an  ex¬ 
tensive  tourist.  She  visited  in  1893  the  great  Columbian 
Exposition  at  Chicago,  and  during  the  same  summer 
made  a  tour  in  Canada  as  far  as  Montreal  and  Quebec, 
inclusive  of  the  Thousand  Isles  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  She 
ascended  the  Eiffel  Tower  in  Paris  and  rode  in  the  Ferris 
Wheel  at  the  Chicago  Fair, — exploits  which  even  adven¬ 
turous  spirits  would  have  shrunk  from.* 

In  connection  with  the  family  record  of  the  family  of 
Rev.  George  Braxton  Taylor,  missionary  of  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Rome,  Italy,  the  L’ Italia  Evangelica,  14  Ottohre, 
1893,  says : 

“  Una  mesta  notizia  dall  America  e  venuta  ad  affliggera 
la  famiglia  del  Dott.  Taylor,  presidente  della  unione 
Battista  Italiana;  e  morte  nella  Virginia  la  moglia  di  suo 
tiglio  il  Rev.  George  Braxton  Taylor;  la  signora  Gessie 
Cabell  Taylor;  della  Prima  Chiesa  Battista  di  Macon 
nella  Georgia.” 

Ella  Bassett  Washington,  a  contributor  to  the  Century, 
says : 

“  The  Sharpless  needle-work  portrait  of  General  Wash¬ 
ington  was  jiresented  to  Mrs.  Mary  Grymes  Braxton,  wife 
of  Colonel  Carter  Braxton,  grandson  of  Carter  Braxton, 
the  signer,  by  Felix  Sharpless,  while  he  was  residing  with 
the  Grymes-Braxton  family  at  their  noted  colonial  resi¬ 
dence,  “  Brandon,”  on  the  Rappahannock  River,  Va.  This 


*  Mrs.  Wyeth  is  a  member  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Chapter  of  the 
“Daughters  of  tlie  Revolution,”  of  the  King’s  Daughters,  an  active 
member  of  Philadelphia  Holy  Trinity  Church,  and  a  liberal  contributor 
to  the  Day  Nursery  for  Children  and  to  the  Door  of  Hope  and  Philadel¬ 
phia  Rescue  Band.  She  contributed  largely  to  rebuild  Trinity  Episcopal 
Church  at  Marshall,  Va.,  and  as  an  original  member  of  this  church  has 
always  given  liberally  to  the  Rector’s  Fund,  while  her  sister,  Miss  Eliza¬ 
beth  M.  Horner,  has  done  likewise,  and  also  provided  Prayer-Books  and 
Hymnals. 


170 


THE  BRAXTON  FAMILY. 


picture  is  the  inheritance  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Braxton  Tom¬ 
lin,  of  Virginia,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Carter  Braxton.  Felix 
Sharpless,  visiting  Virginia,  found  a  temporary  home  at 
Brandon,  and  remained  there  for  a  year,  taking  portraits 
in  pastel  of  many  members  of  the  family  and  of  other 
prominent  people.” 

The  old  colonial  house  at  Mantua,  King  and  Queen 
County,  Va.,  and  once  the  residence  of  Carter  Braxton, 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  as 
already  stated,  and  at  present,  March  15,  1895,  owned  by 
Dr.  Charles  Gresham,  was  lately  burned  to  the  ground. 
The  mother  of  the  late  Virginias  Dabney  was  born  in  this 
same  old  house.  While  the  home  of  the  Braxton  family, 
“  Kewington,”  a  picture  of  which  is  given  in  this  volume, 
is  marked  as  Carter  Braxton’s  residence,  there  is  no  proof 
of  it  until  after  the  death  of  his  father  and  brother,  who 
both  bore  the  name  of  George.  By  purchase  then  Carter 
Braxton  may  have  become  its  possessor. 


EGBERT  HOWE  LITTLE,  M.D. 
(Ex-Surgeon,  United  States  Army'). 


part  HID. 

THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

SKETCn  OP  THE  LIFE  OF  DR.  ROBERT  HOWE  LITTLE. 

lie  was  born  July  4,  1776,  at  “Fenton,”  the  family 
homestead  in  Jefferson  County,  Va.  His  father’s  name 
was  William  Little,  a  Scotch  gentleman  of  an  old  family 
of  Annandale,  Scotland,  who  removed  to  America  in 
1763  and  became  a  large  landed  proprietor.  Dr.  Little’s 
mother  was  Miss  Rutherford,  the  granddaughter  of  an 
English  lady  named  Margaret  Howe,  the  only  child  of 
Sir  Thomas  Howe,  the  brother  of  the  British  general, 
Lord  Howe.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  as  the  appended 
likeness  will  show,  was  handsome  and  above  the  medium 
height.  He  rose  early,  was  very  active,  and  carried  with 
him  through  a  long  life  habits  of  industry,  thrift,  and 
economy,  which  enabled  him  to  accpiire  a  home  for  his 
family  and  furnish  them  a  liberal  subsistence — assisted 
by  the  fortune  acquired  by  his  marriage.  He  attained  to 
eminence  in  his  profession  and  in  social  life.  Scrupu¬ 
lously  neat  in  dress,  and  possessed  of  full  control  over  bis 
appetites  and  passions,  he  realized  the  blessing,  “  Mens 
Sana  in  corpore  sano.” 

He  married  Mary  Blair  Whiting  September  17,  1801, 

171 


172 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


the  grandclangliter  of  Colonel  George  Braxton,  of  “New¬ 
ington,”  King  and  Queen  County,  Va.,  and  of  Mary  Blair, 
his  wife,  of  Williainsburg,  Ya.,  the  mother  being  Eliza¬ 
beth  Whiting,  nh  Braxton.  His  marriage  took  place  at 
“Enfield,”  Prince  William  County,  Va.,  the  family  resi¬ 
dence.  In  the  early  history  of  his  wife’s  family,  of  the 
AVhiting  branch  it  is  recorded  in  the  subsidy  roll  of  Ed¬ 
ward  III.,  in  1332,  that  William  Whytyng,  as  the  name 
was  then  spelled,  was  born  about  the  year  1300,  His  son 
became  abbot  of  Glastonbury,  and,  at  the  time  of  the 
confiscation  of  the  monasteries  in  England,  refusing  to 
surrender  his  abbey,  Henry  YIII.  condemned  him  to 
death. 

By  his  marriage  Dr.  Little  became  allied  with  one  of 
the  most  infinential  connections  in  Virginia  in  the  person 
of  his  amiable  wife,  an  only  daughter,  possessed  of  all  the 
graces  of  her  sex,  and  blending  with  his  own  her  happy 
disposition.  Everything  seemed  to  contribute  towards 
their  future  welfare. 


“  All  heaven, 

And  happy  constellations,  on  that  hour 
Shed  their  selectest  influence  ;  the  earth 
Gave  sign  of  gratulation,  and  each  hill ; 

Joyous  the  birds  ;  fresh  gales  and  gentle  airs 
Whispered  it  to  the  woods,  and  from  their  wings 
Flung  rose,  flung  odors  from  the  spicy  shrub, 
Disporting,  till  the  amorous  bird  of  night 
Sung  spousal,  and  bid  haste  the  evening  star 
On  his  hill  top  to  light  the  bridal  lamp.” 


Their  children  were : 

(1.)  Elizabeth  Howe  Little. 

(2.)  Mary  Blair  Little ;  married  Richard  Brent  Horner, 
of  Warrenton,  Fauquier  County,  Va. 

(3.)  Frances  Ann  Banister ;  married  Dr.  Peyton  Berke¬ 
ley,  of  Farmville,  Prince  Edward  County,  Va. 


SKETCH  OF  LIFE  OF  DR.  ROBERT  HOWE  LITTLE.  173 

(4.)  William  Henry  Little. 

(5.)  Margaret  Triplett ;  married  J olm  Morgan,  of  Clarke 
County,  Va. 

(6.)  Laura  Carlisle ;  married  Rev.  T.  T.  Castleman,  an 
Episcopal  clergyman,  first  at  Staunton,  Va.,  then  Kanka¬ 
kee  City,  and  lastly  at  St.  Joseph,  La. 

(7.)  Seigiiora  P.  Little. 

(8.)  Robert  II.  Little. 

The  daughter,  Seignora  P.  Little,  inherited  the  family 
homestead  at  Millwood,  with  furniture  and  silver  plate, 
made  after  the  pattern  and  costliness  of  that  which 
adorned  the  home  at  Mount  Vernon.  Two  portraits,  one 
of  Colonel  George  Braxton  and  another  of  his  wife,  Mary 
Blair,  are  now  at  Mrs.  F.  H.  Wyeth’s  home  in  Phila¬ 
delphia. 

From  a  letter  addressed  to  Dr.  Little  by  his  brother-in- 
law,  Francis  B.  Whiting,  midshipman  U.  S.  K.,  dated 
August  20,  1796,  we  learn  that  the  former  held  a  com¬ 
mission  in  the  Eighth  Regiment,  U.  S.  A. — a  fact  which 
his  letter  confirms,  dated  from  Harper’s  Ferry.  While 
a  student  under  Di’.  Conrad,  of  Winchester,  he  became 
a  Free  Mason.  His  certificate  is  in  the  author’s  pos¬ 
session,  and  also  one  from  the  Philadelphia  Medical 
Society. 

Dr.  Little  removed  to  Berry’s  Ferry,  on  the  Winchester 
and  Alexandria  Road  and  Shenandoah  River,  and  near 
the  Blue  Ridge  Mountains,  about  the  year  1825,  and  after¬ 
wards  removed  to  Millwood,  Clarke  County,  a  few  miles 
nearer  Winchester.  Here  he  practised  his  profession 
among  citizens  of  wealth  and  the  highest  social  standing 
in  Virginia,  such  as  the  Meades,  Burwells,  Pages,  Kelsons, 
and  Whitings.  This  he  continued  to  do  for  thirty-four 
years  up  to  the  age  of  seventy-nine,  doing  this  on  horse¬ 
back,  and  was  acknowledged  to  be  the  first  physician  in 
his  community.  Subsequently  to  the  death  of  his  son 


174 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


William,  a  farmer,  the  medical  practice  he  had  and  the 
hire  of  a  large  number  of  colored  people,  owned  by  his 
wife,  enabled  him  to  purchase  his  comfortable  homestead 
and  to  support  his  large  family  of  children  and  grand¬ 
children.  He  was  a  superior  horticulturist,  and  always 
kept  up  a  well-furnished  table.  He  was  ever  reticent  and 
had  hut  little  to  say,  and  was  never  contentious  as  to  pol¬ 
ities  or  religion,  being  amiable  both  at  home  and  in  the  so¬ 
cial  circle.  In  1839  he  united  with  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  was  ever  a  consistent  member,  attending  the  church 
services  every  Sabbath  morning  and  the  family  worship, 
his  Bible  his  constant  companion  in  his  office  and  when  not 
occupied  with  his  profession  or  business.  After  his  con¬ 
version  he  ceased  to  keep  wine  and  spirits  in  his  house. 
Apart  from  the  manuals  of  his  profession  and  the  reading 
of  the  American  Journal  of  the  Medical  Sciences,  in  his  time 
the  organ  of  the  profession,  the  newspapers  and  other  lit¬ 
erature  were  excluded  by  him.  He  was  always  in  close 
touch  with  the  most  gifted  physicians  of  the  laud,  such  as 
his  preceptors.  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  Dr.  Hugh  McGuire, 
and  Dr.  William  Byrd  Page,  with  whom  he  corresponded. 
In  medical  practice  he  claimed  no  secret  as  to  the  methods 
of  treatment  of  disease.  He  said  to  his  grandson,  the 
author,  towards  the  close  of  his  life,  that  he  had  ever  based 
his  practice  on  the  plainest  principles,  seeking  to  assist 
nature  in  the  cure,  and  to  avert  and  prevent  diseased 
actions  in  the  organs  and  tissues  of  the  body,  selecting 
medical  substances  from  the  vegetable  kingdom  and  using 
external  applications,  with  suitable  diet.  During  the  early 
part  of  the  spring  and  summer  of  1854  he  began  to  fail  in 
health,  and  was  a  great  sufferer,  owing  to  violent  parox¬ 
ysms  of  angina  pectoris,  Avhich  his  friend  and  relative  by 
marriage.  Dr.  Hugh  McGuire,  declared  would  shortly  end 
his  life.  He  lingered  until  June  4,  1854  (Whitsunday 
morning),  and  died  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age, 


SKETCH  OF  LIFE  OF  DR.  ROBERT  HOWE  LITTLE.  175 


ill  the  comfort  of  a  reasonable  religious  and  holy  hope, 
presenting  hy  his  life  an  example  to  survivors. 

“  So  live,  that,  when  thy  summons  comes  to  join 
The  innumerable  caravan  which  moves 
To  that  mysterious  realm  where  each  shall  take 
His  chamber  in  the  halls  of  death. 

Thou  go  not,  like  the  quarry  slave  at  night. 

Scourged  to  his  dungeon,  but,  sustained  and  soothed 
By  an  unfaltering  trust,  approach  thy  grave 
Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 
About  him,  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams.” 

A  fine  portrait  exists  of  Dr.  Little,  owned  hy  Mr.  Wil¬ 
liam  Morgan,  his  grandson,  showing  him  with  powdered 
hair  in  the  maturity  of  his  manhood.  The  homestead, 
which  was  the  fruit  of  his  hard  toil,  has  passed  into  the 
stranger’s  hands.  Ilis  medical  hooks  and  surgical  instru¬ 
ments,  etc.,  were  bequeathed  to  his  grandson  and  pupil, 
the  author,  Frederick  Horner,  M.D.,  IJ.  S.  N.  William 
Little,  the  brother  of  Dr.  Little,  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
Charlestown,  Jefferson  County,  W.  Va.,  located  on  eighty 
acres  of  land  donated  hy  Charles  Washington,  brother  of 
General  Washington,  for  this  purpose.  (See  “History  of 
the  Lower  Shenandoah  Valley,”  by  J.  E.  Vorris.) 

The  following  obituary  notice  was  given  of  Dr.  Little  : 

“  Died  at  his  residence,  in  Millwood,  Clarke  County, 
Va.,  on  June  4, 1854,  Dr.  Robert  H.  Little,  in  the  seventy- 
ninth  year  of  his  age.  Calmly  did  the  sun  of  righteous¬ 
ness  illumine  his  dying  hour.  He  reached  the  shores  of 
eternity  amid  the  breathings  of  prayer  and  praise,  sur¬ 
rounded  by  an  atmosphere  of  heavenly  influence  calcu¬ 
lated  to  assuage  the  grief  of  many  hearts  who  mourn 
deeply,  yet  not  refusing  to  he  comforted,  because  the 
sting  of  death  was  removed  and  the  victory  secured 
through  a  dying,  risen,  and  triumphant  Saviour.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  adorning 
the  profession  he  had  made  and  commanding  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him  by  his  exaltation  of  char- 


176 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


acter,  gentleinanlj  mauuers,  and  genuine  excellence.  He 
exhibited  the  power  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  in  uncom¬ 
plaining  patience  under  suffering,  humble  submission  to 
the  will  of  God,  and  a  sustaining  faith  which  looked  be¬ 
yond  the  grave  even  to  the  glories  of  a  heavenly  inheri¬ 
tance. 

“  As  a  physician  he  was  eminent  and  successful — labo¬ 
rious  in  duty,  conscientious,  kind  to  the  poor  and  afflicted, 
a  model  in  his  domestic  relations,  full  of  Christian  charity 
and  liberal  feeling.  He  has  died  only  that  he  may  die  no 
more.  He  lives  amid  the  light  and  breathes  the  love  of 
eternity.” 


CHAPTER  II. 

GENEALOGY  AND  HISTOEY. 

The  following  record  is  copied  from  the  family  Bible  of 
Whiting-Braxton : 

“  Henry  Whiting  and  Elizabeth  Braxton  were  married 
the  16th  day  of  Hovemher,  1780,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  John 
Scott,  of  Prince  William  County. 

“  Mai’y  Blair  Whiting,  their  first  child,  was  born  the 
30th  of  August,  1781,  and  was  baptized  the  13th  of 
September  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Daniel  Sturgis,  of  Horbourn 
Parish,  Berkeley  County. 

“  George  Braxton  Whiting,  their  first  son,  was  born 
June  the  8th,  1783,  and  was  baptized  the  28th  day  of  July 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Balmain,  of  Frederick  County. 

“Francis  Beverly  Whiting  was  born  April  the  10th, 
1785,  and  baptized  the  14th  of  June  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Balmain. 

“  The  28th  of  October,  1786,  ray  dear  husband  departed 
this  life ;  he  was  in  the  thirty-eighth  year  of  his  age,  and 
buried  that  day ;  six  tears  that  we  were  married. 

“  1799,  December  the  10th,  a  quarter  before  two  o’clock, 
my  beloved  and  long-afflicted  parent  departed  this  life. 
On  the  12th,  at  four  o’clock,  she  was  laid  in  the  peaceful 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORAL 


177 


grave.  On  the  15th  of  January,  1800,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Davis 
delivered  a  sermon  at  her  seat  in  Prince  William  County, 
on  a  text  chosen  by  me,  Ileb.  xii.  5,  6,  7. 

“September  the  17th,  1801.  On  this  day  my  dear 
and  only  daughter,  Mary  Blair  Whiting,  was  married  to 
Dr.  Robert  Howe  Little.  Long  may  they  live  to  love  and 
bless  each  other  will  be  the  ardent  prayer  of  their  fond 
mother,  who  records  the  above. 

“  Elizabeth  Howe  Little,  their  first  daughter,  born  the 
8th  of  July,  1802 ;  died  unmarried.”  (Signed  by  Elizabeth 
Whiting,  nee  Braxton.) 

Elizabeth  Whiting,  nh  Braxton,  and  wife  of  Henry 
Whiting,  died  August  24,  1818,  aged  fifty-nine;  cause, 
apoplexy. 

Robert  Howe  Little,  M.D.,  consort  of  Mary  Blair  Little, 
daughter  of  Elizabeth  Whiting,  died  June  4,  Whitsunday, 
1 854,  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age. 

Mary  B.  Little,  his  consort,  died  September  21,  1857, 
at  Millwood,  Clarke  County,  Va. 

After  a  short  illness,  George  B.  Whiting,  Sr.,  son  of 
Elizabeth  Whiting,  nA  Braxton,  died  in  Washington  City, 
aged  fifty-two.  lie  was  of  Frederick  County,  Va.,  and 
an  alumnus  of  William  and  Mary  College.  George  B. 
Whiting,  his  son,  whom  General  Andrew  Jackson  ap¬ 
pointed  to  succeed  him  in  a  Federal  office,  was  for  many 
years  a  most  prominent  Free  Mason  in  the  District  of 
Columbia.  His  son,  John  Blair  Whiting,  served  as  a 
soldier  during  the  war  with  Mexico.  His  son,  Fenton  B. 
Whiting,  and  three  daughters,  Elizabeth  Braxton,  Mary 
Blair,  and  Henrietta,  removed  to  Quincy,  Plumas  County, 
Cal.,  and  thence  to  San  Francisco. 

Robert  Howe  Little,  M.D.  (see  Appleton’s  “  Cyclopaedia 
of  Biography”),  seiwed  in  the  United  States  army  as  lieu¬ 
tenant  ;  resigned  to  study  medicine  under  Dr.  Conrad,  of 
Winchester,  Va. ;  matriculated  at  the  University  of  Penn¬ 
sylvania;  was  the  pupil  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  and  the 


178 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


classmate  of  Chapman.  His  notes  on  Ensh’s  lectures  may 
be  seen  in  the  author’s  library,  and  also  his  correspond¬ 
ence  with  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush.  The  following  memoranda 
in  his  handwriting  is  preserved,  viz. :  “  Under  Colonel 
Parker  in  1798-99,  and  1800,  and  as  surgeon  to  the  Eighty- 
ninth  Regiment  in  the  last  war,  without  demanding  one 
cent  for  my  services.”  Francis  B.  Whiting,  midshipman. 
United  States  ship  Constitution,  writes  to  him,  August  20, 
1796  :  “  I  observe  you  have  obtained  a  commission  in  the 
Eighty-ninth  Regiment  I  wish  you  all  happiness  that 
can  attend  a  military  life.”  He  resigned,  married,  and 
settled  at  Enfield,  near  Aldie  and  Haymarket,  Prince 
William  County ;  then  removed  to  Berry’s  Ferry,  on  the 
Shenandoah,  Frederick  County,  and  thence  to  Millwood, 
Clarke  County.  He  afterwards  became  postmaster,  a 
member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  a  suc¬ 
cessful  and  prosperous  practitioner  of  medicine,  the  profits 
of  which  enabled  him  to  purchase  a  comfortable  home  for 
his  large  family.  It  is  stated  that  he  gave  up  all  the 
wines  and  other  licpiors  in  his  cellar  when  he  became 
converted.  This  testimony  to  his  worth  is  given  by  the 
following  extract  from  his  mother-in-law’s  will,  in  which 
she  says : 

“  This  worthy  man  made  every  sacrifice,  and  with  his 
tender  attentions,  with  the  aid  of  the  Supreme  Being,  de¬ 
tained  me  from  the  grave.  Hight  and  day,  at  all  hours, 
through  a  tedious  illness,  [he]  has  been  my  son,  my 
physician,  my  nurse,  and  comforter  of  my  afflicted  life. 
May  Heaven  reward  him  shall  be  my  most  fervent  prayer. 
I  commend  him  to  a  steadfast  faith  in  Christ  Jesus ;  to  be 
to  all  mankind  strictly  just ;  to  the  poor  a  speedy  friend, 
and  to  his  country  firm  and  faithful,  as  was  our  great 
Washington.” 


Copied  from  the  family  Bible  : 


FRANCIS  B.  WHITING,  ESQ. 
(Ex-Midshipman,  United  States  Navy). 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORY. 


179 


“  The  children  of  Robert  Howe  Little  and  Mary  Blair  Little  were: 


“  1.  Eliz  :  H.  Little  ; 

Died. 

July  11  :  1837. 
jEtas  35. 

“  4.  Francis  Ann  Banister  Little 
wife  of 

D'  Peyton  Randolph  Berkeley. 
Died :  .(Etas 
28. 

(Henry) 

“5.  W.  H.  Little:  not  married 
Died 

Dec;  9:  1843. 

JEtas  36. 


“  2.  Mary  Blair  Little 
Born  Feb.  20:  1804: 
Married  Rich''  Brent  Horner 
May  26"'  1824. 

Died  Nov  :  5 :  1885,  in  the 
81“'  year  of  her  age. 

“  3.  Margaret  Triplett  Little 
married  John  Morgan.* 
(Died  March  1889.) 

“6.  Laura  Carlisle  Little 
married 

Rev  :  T.  T.  Castlemanf 
“  7.  Seignora  Peyton  Little 
Died  1876. 


“  8.  Robert  Howe  Little 
Born  May  9:  1818.  (Died  unmarried.) 

‘  I  pray  God  he  may  be 
A  Christian.’  ” 

(Signed  “  R.  H,  Little,  M.D.”) 


From  the  “  Catalogue  of  the  College  of  William  and 
Mary,  from  its  Foundation  to  the  Present  Time,  1859,”  it 
appears  of  the  students  were  : 

John  Whiting,  1752,  Gloucester  County,  Va. 

Peter  Beverly  Whiting,  1752,  Gloucester  County,  Va. 


*  Mr.  Morgan  was  of  the  same  family  as  General  Morgan  of  the  Revo¬ 
lutionary  army.  His  son  John  served  in  the  ranks  of  the  Federal  army, 
is  a  lawyer,  and  married  and  settled  in  Georgia  ;  Benjamin,  also  a  lawyer, 
married  and  settled  in  California;  Elizabeth  and  William,  a  brother, 
settled  near  Stephens  City,  Frederick  County,  Ya. ;  Virginia  is  deceased  ; 
Margaret,  married. 

t  Rev.  T.  T.  Castleman  resided  at  Staunton,  Va.  Through  his  labors 
was  erected  the  Episcopal  church  and  the  Episcopal  Female  Institute  in 
that  city.  He  is  the  author  of  “  Plain  Sermons  for  Servants,”  the  first 
ever  published  in  Virginia.  This  beloved  Christian  minister  removed 
first  to  Kankakee,  Ill.,  and  then  to  St.  Joseph,  Tensas  Parish,  La.  His 
sons  are  Thomas  (who  was  editor  of  the  Tensas  Times,  and  removed  to 
New  Orleans  to  practise  law),  Robert,  and  Price.  The  daughters  are 
Mary,  who  married  Mr.  Briscoe,  a  planter,  and  Fannie,  who  married  Dr. 
Edwin  Slicer,  an  alumnus  of  the  University  of  Virginia. 

12 


180 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


'William  Whiting,  1760,  Gloucester  County,  Ya. 

Henry  Whiting,  1764,  Gloucester  County,  Ya. 

John  Whiting,  1771,  Gloucester  County,  Ya. 

Matthew  Whiting,  1771,  Gloucester  County,  Ya.,  son 
of  Matthew  Whiting,  of  Bull  Run,  Prince  William  County, 
Ya. 

Peter  Whiting,  1777,  son  of  Thomas  Whiting. 

William  Whiting,  1828,  King  and  Queen  County,  Ya. 

As  stated  in  the  “  History  of  the  United  States  during 
Ante-Colonial  Times  and  the  Period  of  the  Revolution, 
1776,”  a  member  of  the  Whiting  family  was  godfather 
to  George  Washington,  and  another  was  one  of  the  com¬ 
missioners  appointed  to  organize  the  Yirginian  navy, 
which  in  1776  became  the  nucleus  of  the  United  States 
navy.* 

A  brief  record  of  the  Whiting  family  in  England  and 
America  was  furnished  us  by  William  H.  Whiting,  of  Oak 
Hunt,  Wis.,  but  late  resident  of  ISTew  York  city,  July  31, 
1857: 

“  A.  D.  1300.  William  Whytyng  (so  the  name  was 
spelled)  was  born  about  the  year  of  our  Lord  1300,  as  he 
is  (1332)  mentioned  in  the  subsidy  roll  of  Edward  HI.,  at 
which  time  he  must  have  been  at  least  of  legal  age. 

“  1352.  In  this  year  (1352)  William,  a  son  of  the  above, 
is  mentioned. 

“  1470.  Richard  Whiting  was  born  in  the  reign  of  Ed¬ 
ward  lY.  In  the  year  1525  he  became  lord  abbott  of 
Glastonbury  in  the  county  of  Somersetshire,  and  in  1540, 
at  the  time  of  the  confiscation  of  the  monasteries  and  other 
religious  ‘  houses’  of  England,  refusing  to  surrender  his 
abbey  to  Henry  YIH.,  he  was  condemned  to  death,  his 


*  Beverly  Whiting,  of  Gloucester  County,  Va.,  the  ancestor  of  Henry 
Whiting,  was  appointed  in  1746  one  of  the  committee  to  revise  the  colo¬ 
nial  laws.  In  May,  1776,  his  uncle,  Thomas  Whiting,  was  appointed 
one  of  the  Board  of  Naval  Commissioners  which  organized  the  American 
navy.  (See  “Howe’s  History  of  Virginia.”) 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORY. 


181 


body  was  quartered  and  sent  to  four  different  towns,  and 
his  head  put  over  the  gateway  of  his  abbey.  A  chair  of 
his  with  his  initials,  R.  W.,  carved  on  it  is  now  in  the 
church  at  Weston,  England. 

“  1560.  Eliza  Whiting,  John,  and  Robert  of  Thorpe, 
1560,  are  mentioned. 

“  1590.  In  this  year  John  Whiting  was  member  of  the 
Common  Council  of  Boston,  Lincolnshire,  England. 

“  1592.  John  Whiting,  son  of  John,  baptized  June  4, 
1592. 

1597.  Samuel  Whiting,  another  son  of  John,  horn 
November  20,  1597. 

“  1600.  John  Whiting,  the  John  first  mentioned  above, 
was  mayor  of  Boston,  England,  in  1600,  and  again  in 
1608. 

“  1613.  Samuel  Whiting,  son  of  John,  the  mayor,  en¬ 
tered  Emmanuel  College,  Cambridge.  He  was  ordained 
a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  he  and  his 
brothers,  James,  William,  Rathaniel,  and  John,  came  to 
America  at  different  periods  from  1608  to  1636.  The 
Whiting  family  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  became  extinct 
on  the  death  of  another  brother,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Whiting, 
in  1788. 

“The  Whiting  Family  in  America. 

“  1608.  James  Whiting  settled  in  Virginia  about  a  year 
after  the  settlement  of  Jamestown,  say  in  1608.  William, 
his  brother,  with  Lords  Say  and  Brook,  purchased  the 
presejit  site  of  the  city  of  Hartford  in  1632-33.  ISTathan- 
iel  settled  in  Dedham,  Rev.  Samuel  at  Lynn,  and  John 
returned  to  England  and  died  in  London. 

“  Colonel  Thomas  Whiting,  of  Gloucester  County,  Va., 
whose  wife’s  name  was  Eliza,  had  children  as  follows, 
all  of  whom  are  mentioned  in  his  will,  viz. :  Thomas, 
Henry,  Horatio,  Sarah,  Catharine,  Eliza,  Susannah,  Jane, 
and  Anne  Beverly.  Another,  Catharine  Whiting  (the 
writer  thinks  she  was  the  sister  of  Colonel  Thomas),  mar¬ 
ried  John  Washington,  and  thus  was  grand-aunt  to  Gen¬ 
eral  George  Washington. 

“Warner  Washington,  who  was  a  descendant  of  John 
and  Catharine  Washington,  married  a  Miss  Whiting,  of 
Gloucester.  By  her  he  had  many  sons  and  daughters. 


182 


THE  AVHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


The  family  also  married  with  the  Carys,  and  a  Harvey 
Whiting,  son  of  Frank  Whiting,  in  Berkeley,  is  men¬ 
tioned. 

“  Of  the  children  of  Colonel  Thomas,  Catharine  mar¬ 
ried  Lieutenant  Stevenson,  of  the  Continental  army,  a 
relative  of  Hon.  Andrew  Stevenson,  minister  to  England 
from  1836  to  1841.  Her  second  husband  was  Mr.  Lowry. 
In  1856  she  was  still  living  in  the  enjoyment  of  good 
health  and  clear  faculties,  eighty-five  years  old. 

“  Anne  Beverly  married  Mr.  Fremont,  and  became  the 
mother  of  Colonel  John  Charles  Fremont  (with  whose 
political  opinions  the  writer  has  no  more  sympathy  than 
you  can  have  by  any  possibility).” 

Extracts  from  records  of  Abington  Episcopal  Church, 
Gloucester  County,  Va. : 

“  1732.  Major  Peter  Whiting  was  buried  February  28, 
1732. 

“  1735.  Mary,  daughter  of  Beverly  Whiting,  born  De¬ 
cember  22,  and  baptized  January  12,  1739. 

“  1744.  Eliza,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Eliza  Whiting, 
born  November  29. 

“  1746.  Anne,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Eliza  Whiting, 
born  August  22. 

“  1747.  Francis  Whiting  married  to  Mrs.  Frances  Per¬ 
rin. 

“  1749.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Whiting  died  April  20. 

“  1755.  Beverly  Whiting  died. 

“  1756.  Beverly,  son  of  John  and  Mary,  baptized. 

“  1758.  Beverly,  son  of  Thomas,  born  October  18,  and 
Eliza,  born  March  10. 

“  1759.  Beverly,  son  of  Captain  Thomas,  died  October 
28. 

“  1759.  William,  son  of  Captain  Thomas,  died  October 
24. 

“  End  of  family  in  America  as  far  as  known  to  the 
writer.” 

The  Whiting  Family  of  Virginia. 

“  The  Whiting  family  came  originally  from  England. 
Three  brothers  emigrated  to  America.  Two  settled  in 
Hew  England  and  one  in  Virginia. 


“ELMINGTON” 

(The  Whiting  Residence  in  Gloucester  County,  Va.). 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORY. 


183 


“  Mr.  Whiting,  of  Elmington,  Gloucester  County,  Va., 
married  one  of  the  daughters  of  Mr.  Beverly  by  a  lady  of 
the  Peyton  family  (the  original  of  the  Bullskin  portraits). 
Of  the  other  daughters,  one  married  Mr.  Randolph,  father 
of  John  Randolph,  attorney-general  of  Virginia  ;  the  other 
married  Mr.  Berdey. 

“  Mr.  Whiting  had  by  his  wife.  Miss  Beverly,  seven 
sons  and  three  daughters. 

“  Francis,  the  fourth  son,  married  Miss  Perrin  (whose 
mother  was  Miss  Throgmorton),  by  whom  he  had  issue 
four  sous  and  four  daughters,  viz. :  Henry,  who  married 
Ann  Fairfax,  daughter  of  Colonel  John  Carlyle  by  Sarah, 
daughter  of  William  Fairfax,  of  Belvoir,  and  sister  of 
Lord  Bryan  Fairfax,  by  whom  he  had  issue  one  son,  Car¬ 
lyle  Fairfax  Whiting,  married  to  Sarah  M.  Little.  Henry 
married,  secondly,  Elizabeth  Braxton,  by  whom  he  had 
issue  one  daughter  and  two  sons,  viz. :  (1)  Mary  Blair, 
married  to  Dr.  Robert  Ilowe  Little  ;  (2)  George  Braxton, 
married  to  Frances  Horner,  daughter  of  Dr.  Gustavus 
Brown  Horner,  and  (3)  Francis  Beverly,  married  to  Mary 
Burwell.  John,  the  second  son  of  Francis,  married  his 
first  cousin.  Miss  Perrin,  and  left  issue  four  daughters  : 

(1)  Harriet,  married,  first,  Mr.  Lingen,  second,  Mr.  Kemp  ; 

(2)  Frances,  married  to  Mr.  Charles  Warn ;  (3)  Susan, 
married  Mr.  Thurston;  (4)  Mary,  married  Warner 
Washington,  and  left  issue  (1)  Warner,  (2)  John,  married 
Miss  Baylor;  (3)  Frances,  married  Mr.  Snickei’s ;  (4) 
Emily;  (5)  Henry;  (6)  Sydney;  (7)  Francis;  (8)  Beverly; 
(9)  Perrin,  married  Miss  Fairfax.  Ann  married  Dolphin 
Drew  and  left  issue  :  (1)  Dolphin ;  (2)  William ;  (3)  Wash¬ 
ington  ;  (4)  Whiting ;  (5)  Anniano.  Francis  married  the 
widow  of  Thacker  Washington  and  daughter  of  Sir  John 
Peyton,  and  died  without  issue.  Beverly  died  unmar¬ 
ried.  Elizabeth  died  unmarried.  Frances  married  Charles 
Lowndes  and  had  issue  one  son  and  one  daughter,  viz. : 
Beverly  Bladen  and  Frances  Perrin. 

“  Captain  Robert  Whiting,  another  son  of  Mr.  Whiting, 
of  Elmington,  left  two  sons,  who  removed  to  Kew  York, 
where  their  descendants  still  live.  The  descendants  of 
the  Whiting  family  of  Virginia  reside  now  chiefly  in  the 
counties  of  Clarke,  Jefterson,  and  Fairfax,  Va.” 


184 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


The  above  data  was  kindly  furnished  the  author  by 
Francis  Beverly  Whiting,  of  “  Edgewood,”  near  Mill- 
wood,  Clarke  County,  Va.,  August  29,  1889.  Colonel 
John  Washington,  who  emigrated  to  America  in  1659, 
had  among  other  children  Laurence  Washington,  who 
married  in  1680  Mildred  Warner,  of  Gloucester  County, 
Va.  His  son,  John  Washington,  in  1712  married  Cath¬ 
erine  Whiting,  of  Gloucester  County,  Va. 

Mildred  Washington  married  Francis  Thornton,  of 
Spottsylvania  County,  Va. 

Francis  Thornton,  progenitor  of  the  Thornton  family  in 
Virginia,  settled  in  Caroline  County,  Va.  His  son  Fran¬ 
cis  married  Frances  Gregory;  their  daughter,  Mildred 
Thornton,  was  the  second  wife  of  Colonel  Samuel  Wash¬ 
ington,  the  brother  of  General  George  Washington. 

Their  descendant,  Hon.  James  Bankhead  Thornton,  of 
Caroline  County,  Va.,  lawyer,  married  Marianna  Horner, 
daughter  of  Hr.  Gustavus  B.  Horner  and  sister  of  Richard 
B.  Horner. 

Mr.  Thornton  and  wife  died  while  resident  in  Memphis, 
Tenn. 

Beverly  Whiting,  burgess  of  Gloucester  County,  1744- 
55  ;  justice  in  Gloucester  County,  1739. 

Catharine  Whiting,  of  Gloucester,  married  John  Wash¬ 
ington. 

Elizabeth  Whiting,  widow,  Gloucester,  alive  in  1729. 

Francis  Whiting,  sheriff  of  Gloucester,  1718 ;  received 
grant  of  land  in  Gloucester,  1723;  officer  in  Revolution 
from  Gloucester;  had  Henry,  at  William  and  Mary,  1764, 
who  married,  1788,  Polly  Fox,  of  Gloucester.  Francis 
Whiting,  first  lieutenant  First  Virginia  Light  Dragoons, 
1776-1783,  living  in  Jefferson  County  in  1808,  married 
Harriet,  who  died  September  8,  1826,  at  “  Clay  Hill,”  in 
Amelia  County,  residence  of  her  sister,  Mrs.  Tabb,  relict 
of  late  Francis  W.,  of  Jefferson  County,  Va.  Francis 


HISTORY  AND  GENEALOGY. 


185 


Whiting  (lied  at  “  Eaton  Hill,”  residence  of  his  son,  Fran¬ 
cis  B.  Whiting,  January  3,  1826,  aged  forty-six.  Francis 
B.  Whiting  married,  “  Chalk  Level,”  Gloucester,  Meaux, 
daughter  of  Meaux  Thornton.  Frank  Whiting,  Thomas 
Whiting,  and  Beverly  Whiting,  who  died  in  1757,  leaving 
Peter  Beverly,  were  brothers.  Frank  Whiting  married 
Mary  Burwell,  daughter  of  William  Burwell,  “  Carter 
Hall,”  Clarke  County;  had  (1)  Burwell,  married  Camilla 
Pleasants;  (2)  Henry,  married  Mary  Foote;  (3)  Frank, 
married  IMaria  Meade ;  (4)  Lucy,  married  William  Whit¬ 
ing;  children,  Florence  and  Carlisle,  C.  S.  A.,  the  latter 
killed  by  prisoners  in  his  charge  ISTovember  7,  1864. 

Colonel  Henry  Whiting,  vestryman  Ware  Parish, 
Gloucester,  1674 ;  member  council,  1691 ;  treasurer  Vir¬ 
ginia,  1692-93 ;  sheriff  Gloucester,  1723-39  ;  justice,  1732 ; 
sheriff  Middlesex  County,  1742;  Berkeley  County,  1784. 

Captain  John  Whiting,  Gloucester,  1775 ;  delegate, 
1780;  sheriff,  1786.  John  Pox  Whiting  married  M. 
Augusta,  daughter  of  Louis  and  Eleanor  Oliver. 

Matthew  Whiting  married  Eliza,  daughter  of  John 
Robinson,  Middlesex ;  his  daughter,  Mary  Whiting,  mar¬ 
ried,  1787,  Archibald  Blair,  clerk  of  council,  Rich¬ 
mond. 

Peter  Whiting  married  a  daughter  of  President  Lewis 
Burwell,  Gloucester;  had  grant  Gloucester,  1783  ;  State 
senate,  1780;  Hannah,  relict  of  Peter  P.  Whiting,  of 
“  Elmington,”  Gloucester,  died  at  Berryville  in  1827, 
aged  sixty-five.  Peter  Whiting,  sheriff,  1797. 

The  author  is  indebted  to  Miss  Mary  Pleasants  Whiting, 
daughter  of  M.  Burwell  and  Camilla  Pleasants,  of  Clarke 
County,  Va.,  for  the  following  extracts,  to  whom  is  be¬ 
queathed  a  ring  by  Mrs.  Lucy  Eliza  Whiting,  with  a  hand¬ 
some  set,  and  on  which  is  the  inscription,  “Janet  Blair 
obit  Jan  1765.”  On  the  obverse,  “  Archibald  Blair 
obit :  4“*  June,  1767.  yEtas  77 


186 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


“Henry  Whiting,  born  December  10,  1748,  who  mar¬ 
ried,  first,  Ann  Fairfax  Carlisle,  and,  second,  Elizabeth 
Braxton,  daughter  of  George  Braxton,  King  and  Queen 
County.  (Refer  to  ‘Blairs,’  Chambers’s  ‘Biographical 
Dictionary  of  Eminent  Scotsmen.’) 

“  He  had  the  following  children :  (1)  Carlisle  Fairfax, 
who  married  a  Miss  Little. 

“  Whiting  coat-of-arms : 

“  Crests  :  wolf’s  head. 

“  Arms  :  on  a  chevron — three  trefoils  between  wolf’s 
head. 

“  To  trace  any  family  in  England  it  is  requisite  to  be 
informed  of  the  coat-of-arms  they  used.  (Refer  to  William 
and  Mary  Magazine,  editor  L.  G.  Tyler,  M.A.,  and  to  Vir¬ 
ginia  Historical  Magazine,  Richmond,  Va.,  ‘  Whiting.’) 

“  Thomas  Whiting,  commissioner  of  admiralty  during 
the  Revolutionary  War.  (See  Virginia  Gazette,  July  5, 
1786,  also  Virginia  Historical  Magazine,  July,  1893,  page  64.) 

“  Major  Henry  Whiting,  Gloucester  County,  military 
ofiicer  horse,  1680.  (See  Virginia  Historical  Magazine,  Jan¬ 
uary,  1894.) 

“  Thomas  Whiting,  first  commissioner  of  the  Kavy 
Board.  Extracts  from  his  letter  recommending  appoint¬ 
ment  of  Walter  Brooke  commander  in  the  navy.  (See 
Virginia  Magazine,  January,  1894,  page  331.) 

Francis  Whiting,  Virginia,  first  lieutenant  of  Thurs¬ 
ton’s  additional  Continental  regiment.  May  28,  1777 ; 
lieutenant  First  Continental  Dragoons,  April,  1779  ;  trans¬ 
ferred  to  Baylor’s  regiment  of  dragoons  Kovember  9, 
1782,  and  served  to  close  of  the  war. 

“  Colonel  Harry  Whiting,  vestryman.  Ware  Parish, 
Gloucester  County,  in  1674  ;  member  of  the  council,  1691 ; 
treasurer  of  Virginia,  July  5, 1692-93  ;  sheriff  of  Glouces¬ 
ter  County,  1723  to  1739;  justice  in  1732. 

“  The  following  note  was  copied  from  a  volume  in  the 
Historical  Library,  viz.  ;  ‘  Henry  Whiting,  ensign,  Vir¬ 
ginia,  ensign  Fourth  Virginia,  March  25,  1776 ;  lieuten¬ 
ant,  November  29,  1777 ;  retired  September  14,  1778. 

“  Beverly  Whiting,  see  ‘  Alumni  Oxoniensis,’  from  1716 
to  1886  :  ‘  Whitinge,  Beverley,  son  of  Henry  Whitinge,  of 
Virginia,  gentleman,  Christ  Church,  Oxford,  matriculated 
October  30,  1722,  aged  fifteen.’ 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORY. 


187 


“  In  the  cemetery  of  Abington  Church,  Gloucester 
County,  Va.,  may  be  seen  the  tomb  of  Mrs.  Katharine 
Washington,  with  the  inscription  :  ‘  Underneath  this  stone 
lyeth  intered  the  body  of  Mrs.  Katharine  Washington, 
wife  of  Major  John  Washington  and  dau  :  of  Col :  Henry 
Whiting  by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  born  May  22,  1694.  She 
was  in  her  several  stations  a  loving  and  obedient  wife,  an 
indulgent  mother,  a  kind  and  considerate  mistress,  and, 
above  all,  an  exemplary  Christian.’  Another  burial  place, 
now  of  the  Whiting  family,  is  at  ‘  Old  Chapel,’  Clarke 
County,  Va. 

“  Among  the  highly-prized  heirlooms  of  the  branch  of 
‘  Clay  Hill’  is  a  sword,  of  which  is  the  following  record  : 
‘  The  sword  belonged  to  my  great-uncle,  Francis  Whiting, 
the  brother  of  my  grandfather,  Henry  Whiting.  The 
sword  once  cut  oft'  a  man’s  nose  in  Korth  Carolina,  The 
said  nose  belonged  to  one  of  Tarleton’s  Troopers,  who  cut 
Francis  Whiting  down  with  his  sabre.  Francis  Whiting 

“  Writhed  him  up  against  the  spear 
And  swung  his  broad-sword  round,” 

and  to  repay  the  trooper  for  removing  part  of  his,  Fran¬ 
cis’s,  skull,  he  removed  all  the  trooper’s  nose.’  (Signed 
by  W.  H.  W.,  Jr.)” 

Peter  Whiting,  appointed  justice,  Gloucester,  1726; 
sherift",  1727.  Peter  B.  Whiting,  of  “  Elmingtoii,”  moved 
from  Gloucester  after  1789. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Thomas  Whiting,  of  Gloucester, 
alive,  1775.  Thomas  Whiting,  burgess  of  Gloucester, 
1757-69,  1772-75;  commissioner  admiralty,  1776  ;  mem¬ 
ber  of  Virginia  convention,  1775, 1795.  Thomas  B. Whiting 
married,  1847,  Anna  Bassett,  daughter  of  Daingerfield 
Starke,  all  of  Norfolk.  Thomas  AVhiting,  justice,  1794, 

Hannah  Washington,  daughter  of  AVarner  AVashington, 
married  a  AVhiting. 

Colonel  Whiting,  of  Gloucester,  married  Anne,  daugh¬ 
ter  of  Colonel  Aides  Cary,  of  Ceelys. 

AVilliam  AVhiting  married  Susan,  daughter  of  Robert 


188 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


Nelson,  “Malvern  Hill;”  had  one  child,  Mary,  who 
married  Philip  Nelson. 

In  the  “Memoir  of  Rev.  Samuel  Whiting,  D.D.,  and  of 
his  wife,  Elizabeth  St.  John,”  etc.,  by  William  Whiting, 
former  president  New  England  Historical  and  Genealog¬ 
ical  Society,  fifty  copies  printed,  not  published,  8vo,  pp. 
334,  1871,  considerable  space  is  given  to  the  Virginia 
family  of  Whiting.  (See  also  “  Virginia  Genealogies,” 
Hayden.) 

The  register  of  the  navy  of  the  United  States  for  1893 
presents  the  names  of  the  following  otficers  :  William  D. 
Whiting,  commodore,  retired,  appointed  from  Massachu¬ 
setts;  midshipman,  March,  1841,  and  October  12,  1881, 
commodore;  second,  William  H.  Whiting,  commander, 
the  Alliance,  September  21,  1860;  commander,  July  2, 
1882,  appointed  from  Wisconsin ;  and,  third,  Robert 
Whiting,  surgeon  nautical  school  ship  St.  Mary’s;  ap¬ 
pointed  from  Virginia  and  commissioned  assistant-sur¬ 
geon,  Juiie  21, 1875 ;  passed-assistant,  December  17, 1878 ; 
and  surgeon,  December  15,  1891. 

In  connection  with  the  record  of  the  Whiting  family  of 
Virginia,  the  author  failed  to  obtain  from  the  Whiting- 
Hope-Marr  branch,  resident  at  Hampton  and  Lexington, 
Va.,  the  data  desired.  The  following  was  kindly  furnished : 

In  connection  with  the  history  of  the  Whitings  of 
America  may  be  quoted  a  sketch  of  the  pioneer  life  of 
Fenton  Berkeley  Whiting,  of  Quincy,  Cal.,  the  fourth 
son  of  George  B.  and  Francis  Whiting  {nee  Horner),  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Northern  California  and  a 
founder  of  express  lines  and  dog  express  mail  companies 
between  Bidwell  and  Marysville. 

In  the  “  History  of  Plumas,  Lassen,  and  Sierra  Counties, 
Cal.,”  by  Frank  T.  Gilbert,  it  is  stated: 

“  In  1857,  H.  C.  Everts,  F.  B.  Whiting,  and  others 
formed  the  well-known  firm  of  Whiting  &  Co.  They  con- 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORY. 


189 


tinned  the  business  till  succeeded  by  Wells,  Fargo  &  Co., 
in  1868.  Mr.  Whiting  then  for  a  decade  became  county 
clerk  of  Plumas  County. 

“  During  the  winter  of  1852-53,  expressmen  had  a  hard 
time  of  it,  and  had  to  fight  their  way  on  foot  through  the 
snow.  At  that  time  snow-shoes  were  unknown  here. 
The  Indian  or  Canadian  snow-shoe  was  soon  after  intro¬ 
duced.  This  was  too  slow  to  satisfy  the  enterprising  and 
energetic  character  of  Mr.  Whiting.  Like  all  American 
hoys  of  thoughtful  habits,  he  had  read  the  interesting- 
stories  of  explorers  of  the  Arctic  Seas,  and  treasured  them 
in  his  mind.  It  now  occurred  to  him  that  the  sled  and 
team  of  dogs  used  by  the  natives  of  the  polar  zone  could 
be  adopted  in  the  express  business  with  profit.  During 
the  year  1858  he  procured  three  large,  strong,  intelligent 
dogs  of  the  Newfoundland  and  St.  Bernard  breeds,  and 
broke  them  in  to  work  in  harness  that  he  had  made  espe¬ 
cially  for  the  purpose.  When  winter  came,  with  its  mass 
of  snow,  he  harnessed  them  to  a  sled  Avhich  had  been 
constructed  at  a  cost  of  seventy-five  dollars,  and  made  a 
trial  trip.  It  Avas  a  magnificent  success.  On  the  sled  Avas 
a  small  chest,  in  AAdiich  Avere  carried  the  United  States 
mail  (a  post-office  having  been  established  two  years  be¬ 
fore  at  Quincy),  letters  and  express  packages  of  gold  dust, 
the  fruit  of  the  toil  of  hard-working  miners.  These,  Avith 
himself  and  an  occasional  passenger,  sometimes  made  a 
load  of  six  hundred  pounds,  Avith  whicli  the  dogs  would 
race  across  the  frozen  crust  of  suoav  at  the  top  of  their 
speed,  apparently  enjoying  the  sport  as  much  as  the 
human  freight  they  dreAV.  Mr.  Whiting  drove  and  man¬ 
aged  the  dog  express  in  person,  the  route  being  from 
Buckeye  to  MeadoAv  Valley,  a  distance  of  tAventy-tAvo 
miles.  Snow-shoes  AA-ere  used  by  tlie  driver  in  going  up 
steep  grades  or  through  the  deep  snoAV  to  lighten  the  load 
for  the  patient  animals.  The  dogs  Avere  driven  tandem, 
— four  in  a  team.  Stages  Avere  put  on  the  route  in  1858, 
as  long  as  the  roads  remained  open ;  but  as  soon  as  the 
blockade  of  snoAV  Avas  laid  the  dog  express  Avas  brought 
into  requisition,  and  for  AA^eeks  the  oidy  connecting-link 
between  Plumas  and  the  outside  Avorld  was  Mr.  Whiting 
and  his  gallant  canine  friends.” 


190 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


Mr.  Whiting  at  present  (1890)  still  resides  at  Quincy, 
surrounded  by  a  large  and  happy  family,  and  has  become  a 
successful  practising  attorney-at-law  since  he  has  removed 
to  San  Francisco  with  his  family. 

Randolph  Virginius  Whiting,  son  of  F.  B.  Whiting, 
passed  the  examination  to  practise  law  in  the  Supreme 
Court  of  California  in  May,  1895.  While  preparing  to 
attain  such  high  legal  honors,  this  young  man  was  an  in¬ 
structor  in  mathematics.  F.  B.  Whiting,  Jr.,  is  resident 
surgeon  in  the  Infirmary  of  Kings  County,  Washington; 
Harry,  the  eldest,  is  compositor  on  a  Honolulu  paper  and 
a  member  of  the  Hawaiian  government  band;  Eugene  is 
employed  in  the  San  Francisco  Post-Office,  while  Frank 
at  nineteen  years  of  age  is  a  teacher  of  languages.  The 
aunt,  Henrietta  C.  Whiting,  in  1876  married  Andrew 
Jackson  Gould,  a  native  of  Clinton,  Pa.,  a  miner.  He 
invented  the  Gould  water-wheel.  In  attempting  to  cross 
Jacoby  Ravine,  not  far  from  Quincy,  Plumas  County, 
Cal.,  in  the  early  spring,  in  the  midst  of  ice  and  snow, 
Mr.  Gould  slipped  into  the  bed  of  the  ravine  head  fore¬ 
most,  striking  his  head  and  breaking  his  neck.  As  he 
went  over  the  precipice  he  cried  out,  “  My  God  !”  Death 
was  instantaneous,  and  the  water  of  the  river,  about  five 
feet  deep,  passing  from  air-hole  to  air-hole,  rapidly  car¬ 
ried  the  body  down  stream  until  rescued  by  his  fellow- 
miners. 

Harry  C.  Whiting,  the  son  of  George  C.  Whiting,  for 
many  years  Worthy  Grand  Master  Mason  of  the  District 
of  Columbia,  is  a  clerk  in  the  United  States  Treasury  De¬ 
partment.  His  brother,  George  Braxton,  deceased,  mar¬ 
ried  Miss  Lyons,  as  stated  elsewhere.  His  sister  Rosa 
married  Mr.  Still e,  of  Brooklyn,  K.  Y. 

Mr.  Carlisle  Whiting  married  the  daughter  of  Mr.  John 
P.  Dulany,  of  Fauquier  County,  Va.  His  family  reside  in 
Baltimore  with  the  exception  of  the  two  sons, — Keville, 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORY. 


191 


who  married  Miss  Hyde,  resident  in  Fauquier  County, 
Va.,  and  Dr.  Guy  Whiting,  who  married  in  the  city  of 
Hew  York  and  is  resident  of  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  southern  branch  of  the  Whiting  family  are  numer¬ 
ous.  Frances,  daughter  of  George  Braxton  Whiting,  who 
married  Francis  Horner,  and  sister  of  G.  B.  Whiting,  Jr., 
married  Mr.  Anderson.  They  removed  to  Alton,  Ill., 
thence  to  Dubuque,  la.,  and  thence  to  Red  Cloud.  Her 
sisters,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  and  Henrietta,  after  living  for 
some  years  in  Washington  City  and  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  re¬ 
moved  to  Quincy,  and  since  to  San  Francisco,  Cab,  where 
they  now  live  with  their  brother,  Fenton  B.  Whiting. 
The  latter  was  born,  as  already  mentioned,  at  ‘‘Mountain 
View,”  Fauquier  County,  Va.  He  crossed  the  plains  in 
1849  and  since  has  lived  in  California.  His  brother, 
Richard  Whiting,  undertook  the  lumber  business  on  the 
Mississippi  about  the  year  1847,  when  epidemic  cholera 
prevailed,  from  which  disease  he  died.  John,  another 
brother,  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War.  After¬ 
wards  he  had  brain  disease  and  was  committed  to  the 
Staunton,  Va.,  Hospital. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  General  John  C.  Fre¬ 
mont,  U.  S.  A.,  was  descended  from  the  Whitings.  His 
father,  a  Frenchman,  settled  in  Horfolk,  Va.,  and  married 
Anne  Beverly  Whiting,  a  Virginia  lady,  and  supported 
himself  by  teaching  his  native  language.  After  his  death 
in  1818,  his  widow  removed  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  with 
three  infant  children.  J.  C.  Fremont,  her  son,  won  the 
title  of  the  “  Pathfinder,”  founded  the  State  of  California, 
was  United  States  Senator  and  first  candidate  of  the  Re¬ 
publicans  for  President  in  1856,  against  Buchanan,  who 
defeated  him,  served  during  the  civil  war  in  the  Federal 
army  as  major-general,  and  died  July  15,  1890,  on  the 
retired  list  of  the  United  States  army. 

Mrs.  Heville  Whiting  has  in  her  possession  a  ring,  the 


192 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


set  bearing’  the  name  of  “  Sarah  Manley,  obii :  79 — 1785,” 
who  was  the  grandmother  of  Carlisle,  Fairfax,  William, 
and  their  sister,  Ellen  Whiting,  of  the  family  whose  resi¬ 
dence  was  “  Morven,”  near  Alexandria,  Va. 

The  Little  Family. 

The  following  is  the  earliest  record  of  the  Little  family, 
and  was  kindly  furnished  by  Robert  Little  Horner : 

“  Andrew  Little,  of  Fenton,  Anuandale,  Dumfriesshire, 
Scotland,  married  Christian  Murray  (sister  of  Colonel 
John  Carlyle’s  mother),  and  by  her  had  issue  four  sons 
and  four  daughters. 

“His  children  were,  (1)  John,  who  emigrated  to  South 
Carolina  (where  his  relation.  Judge  Murray,  resided) ;  he 
was  drowned  from  a  pleasure  boat. 

“(2.)  William,  who  emigrated  to  Virginia  in  company 
with  Colonel  Carlyle,  settled  in  Jefferson  County,  near 
Charlestown,  on  a  place  called  Fenton  Hill,  and  married 
Margaret  Howe,  by  whom  he  had  issue  five  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

“  (3.)  George,  wLo  died  young. 

“  (4.)  Charles,  emigrated  to  Virginia  after  William  in 
the  year  1768-9,  and  married  Mary  Manly,  by  whom  he 
had  issue  one  daughter,  Sarah  Manly,  married  to  Carlyle 
Fairfax  Whiting. 

“  (5.)  Henrietta,  married  Mr.  Marr. 

“  (6.)  Christian,  married  Mr.  Mcholls. 

“  (7.)  Rachel,  married  Mr.  Chartres. 

“  (8.)  Jane,  unmarried. 

“  William,  son  of  Andrew,  married  Margaret  Howe. 
His  children : 

“  (1.)  Mary,  married  Colonel  McGuire. 

“  (2.)  Robert  Howe,  married  Mary  Blair  Whiting. 

“  (3.)  William,  married  Jane  Craighill. 

“  (4.)  Charles,  unmarried. 

“(5.)  Elizabeth,  married  William  Price  Craighill. 

“  (6.)  John  Peyton,  married,  May  22,  1817,  Arabella 
Jane  Alexander,  of  Wilmington,  Delaware. 

“  (7.)  Margaret,  unmarried. 

“  (8.)  Thomas,  married  Miss  Smith  of  Kentucky.” 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORY. 


193 


Through  the  courtesy  of  Mrs.  Neville  Whiting,  the 
granddaughter  of  Rev.  Bryan  Fairfax,  is  furnished  the 
following  data,  viz. : 

“  Colonel  John  Carlyle  was  descended  from  the  Car¬ 
lyles,  of  Torthorwald,  Scotland.  lie  moved  to  America 
when  a  young  man,  and  settled  as  a  merchant  in  Alexan¬ 
dria.  He  married  twice.  His  first  wife  was  Sarah  Fair¬ 
fax,  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Bryan  Fairfax.  The  first  wife 
left  two  daughters.  Sarah,  the  eldest,  married  William 
Herbert;  the  second  daughter,  Ann  Fairfax  Carlyle, 
married  Henry  Whiting,  of  Jefferson  County,  Va.,  and 
left  one  son,  named  Carlyle  Fairfax  Whiting.  Colonel 
Carlyle’s  second  wife  was  Sybil  West,  the  sister  of  the 
Rev.  William  West,  of  Harford  County,  Md.  She  had 
sons  and  daughters,  but  only  one  survived  her,  viz., 
George  William  Carlyle.  He  lived  to  be  sixteen,  then 
entered  the  array,  ami  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Eutaw 
Springs  in  South  Carolina,  September  8,  1781. 

“Carlyle  Fairfax  Whiting  was  born  March  20,  1778, 
the  day  his  mother  died.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  mar¬ 
ried  his  cousin,  Sarah  Manly  Little,  the  only  child  of 
Colonel  Charles  Little,  of  Denbigh,  Fairfax  County,  Ya. 
Sarah  M.  Little,  his  wife,  was  born  June  1, 1776.  Colonel 
Carlyle  and  Colonel  Charles  Little  were  first  cousins. 
Their  mothers  were  Christian  and  Rachel  Murray,  of 
Scotland.  After  the  death  of  Ann  Fairfax  Whiting  her 
husband,  Henry  Whiting,  married  Elizabeth  Braxton,  and 
left  one  daughter  and  two  sons,  Mary  Blair  Whiting, 
George  Braxton  Whiting,  and  Francis  Beverly  Whiting. 
Mary  married  Dr.  Robert  Howe  Little,  George  married 
Frances  Horner,  and  Frank  married  Mary  Burwell,  of 
Clarke  County,  Ya. 

“It  may  be  also  added  that  Mrs.  Neville,  the  great- 
granddaughter  of  Colonel  John  Carlyle,  married  her 
cousin,  the  great-grandson  of  the  same  gentleman,  and 
they  have  five  sons,  the  family  homestead  being  near  Mar¬ 
shall,  Fauquier  County,  Ya.” 

The  obituary  of  Mrs.  Henry  Whiting,  nee  Braxton,  reads 
thus : 


194 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


“Departed  tins  life  on  Monday,  the  24th  ultimo,  at 
Enfield,  Prince  William  County,  Va.,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Whiting,  in  the  fifty-ninth  year  of  her  age,  a  lady  emi¬ 
nently  distinguished  for  talents  rarely  to  he  met  with,  and 
for  all  the  virtues  necessary  to  adorn  her  sex.  For  many 
years  before  her  death  she  had  sustained  a  tiresome  exist¬ 
ence  in  consequence  of  continued  ill  health.  She  bore  all 
the  afflictions  of  life  with  the  most  perfect  composure, 
looking  to  the  period  when  they  would  be  exchanged  for 
the  felicities  of  heaven.  She  will  live  in  fond  recollection 
of  all  who  were  favored  with  the  pleasure  of  knowing  her 
worth.” 

In  proof  of  the  courteous  style  of  correspondence  of 
the  last  century  may  be  quoted  a  letter,  post-marked 
“  Mrs.  Mary  Pi-escot,  Enfield :  Loudoun  County  via  Lees- 

burg,  Pd,  February  5  :  1797 — Alex  for _5,”  from  Judge  B. 

30 

Washington : 

“  Madam  :  I  received  the  letter  which  you  did  me  the  honor  to  write 
&  now  enclose  you  a  copy  of  Gill’  bill  whi  is  this  moment  received.  You 
will  please  get  some  professional  Gentleman  to  draw  your  answer  whi 
together  with  the  copy  now  enclosed  send  me  as  soon  as  possible. 

“You  may  rely  upon  my  best  exertions  being  used  for  your  interest 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Madam 

“  Yr  :  mo  ob.  serv  : 

“Bdshrod  Washington 

“  Mrs  Prescott.” 


The  following  letter  shows  the  style  of  the  refined  lady 
of  Virginia.  It  is  addressed  to 


“  Mrs  Elizabeth  Whiting 

“Berkeley  County 


“  To  y’  care  of  M"' 

“Archd  Blair, 

“  Kichmond. 


“Novf  18^"  1784. 

“  My  Dear  Betsy’  most  welcome  favor  reached  me  some  weeks  since  by 
which  am  informed  of  yours  and  M''  Whitings  being  in  good  health  and 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORY. 


195 


though  you  do  not  particularly  mention  the  sweet  little  Folks  yet  hope 
this  silence  may  be  interpreted  in  their  favor,  and  now  my  Friend  permit 
me  to  make  my  warmest  acknowledgements  to  yourself  and  thro’  you  to 
your  worthy  spouse  (whom  you  may  perceive  I  am  much  inclined  to  for¬ 
give)  for  your  congratulations  on  the  arrival  of  my  sister  who  is  as  solici¬ 
tous  for  a  personal  acquaintance  with  you  as  you  can  possibly  be  with  her 
and  much  I  wish  that  your  domestic  affairs  may  brighten  up  and  prove 
no  longer  an  obstacle  to  all  our  wishes,  but  shou’d  that  not  be  the  case  I 
know  my  beloved  Eliza’^  good  sense  will  teach  her  to  bear  her  ill  fortune 
with  calmness  nay  I  may  say  with  Philosophy,  since  ’tis  not  in  riches  we 
are  to  expect  happiness.  Heaven  knows  how  deplorable  our  lot  wou’'*  be 
were  that  the  way  to  Estimate  it  for  sadly  have  we  experienced  the  re¬ 
verse  of  what  you  knew  us.  Our  friends  at  Richneck  have  all  been  very 
sick  but  are  now  recovered.  Polly  is  extremely  anxious  to  see  you,  did 
she  know  of  this  opport^  am  sure  she  wou*  tell  you  this  herself.  Since 
our  correspondence  has  been  suspended  we  have  experienced  the  loss  of  the 
best  of  relations  in  our  Aunt  Burwell,  but  I  can  scarcely  consider  this  as  a 
misfortune  since  it  released  her  from  a  most  unhappy  world  to  one  for 
which  no  one  was  ever  better  prepared.  I  am  sorry  that  time  will  not 
admit  of  my  writing  two  Lett®  else  shou'^  certainly  address  one  to  your  D” 
mamma,  of  whose  illness  I  was  very  sorry  to  hear.  Mine  has  been  a  long 
time  confined  with  the  ague  &  fever  ;  that  complaint  has  now  left  her,  tho  : 
very  weak  &  low  &  some  attendant  disorders  continue  &  prevent  her  re¬ 
covery.  She,  my  Sister  &  Brother  blend  their  affectionate  regards  with 
mine  to  yourself  and  M''  Whiting.  Pappa  is  gone  to  Richmond.  The 
Family  of  Battersea  are  all  well  except  (and  am  sorry  for  the  exception) 
Jack  Banister,  who  is  extremely  ill.  If  he  is  an  acquaintance  of  yours  I 
need  say  nothing  to  increase  the  sorrow  this  information  will  give.  Poor 
M''®  Balfour  12  days  ago  after  a  most  tedious  illness  was  released  from  a 
Life  which  had  been  rendered  miserable  by  a  long  series  of  misfortunes, 
under  which  she  conducted  herself  with  admirable  firmness  &  resignation. 
Char’  will  meet  with  a  Friend  in  our  amiable  Uncle  Cary,  I  am  D'’  Betsy 

“  yrs  ever  J.  Blair 

“  Kiss  Polly  &  George  for  me  remember  me  to  y®  other  son.” 

This  letter  marks  the  business  type  and  ring  of  the  law¬ 
yer.  It  is  from  A.  Blair,  the  clerk  of  the  Richmond 
court,  and  is  addressed  to  “  M”  Mary  Andrews,  Enfield 
near  Goshen,  in  Prince  William  County  (17.  Postage) 

“  Richmond  Sept :  I"’”  1811. 

“  Dear  Madam  :  I  have  seen  a  letter  to  Mr  Anderson  dated  21“  July 
in  Liverpool  where  he  and  his  family  safely  arrived  after  a  very  short 
passage.  M''®  H  suffered  much  from  sea  sickness  but  they  are  all  much 

13 


196 


THE  AVHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


belter  from  the  trip.  It  is  very  probable  he  has  written  to  you  which  I 
suppose  would  be  sent  on  to  j’ou  from  W“®burg  ;  it  has  been  very  sicklj* 
here  this  summer  ;  poor  M’’®  Mills  has  left  us  for  a  better  world  a  happy 
event  for  her  as  she  had  become  quite  helpless.  We  flatter  ourselves  you 
will  be  moving  this  way  shortly  as  the  Society  of  your®  and  Miss  Char¬ 
lotte  would  be  very  acceptable  to  us  all.  Beverly  delivered  me  a  message 
from  M''  Little  requesting  to  be  informed  to  whom  the  money  was  pd.  by 
me  for  the  land.  Be  so  good  as  to  inform  him  that  I  paid  £462  13.6.  on 
the  March  1793  to  Mr  Charles  Grj'ines  Agent  for  John  H.  Horton 
on  receiving  a  letter  from  M''  B.  Washington  in  the  following  words  to 
wit : 

“  ‘  Sir.  M''  Grymes  has  presented  me  a  Deed  from  M""  Norton  to  Thos : 
Porter  and  myself  in  Trust  for  M''  &  M”  Prescot  which  I  have  accepted 
&  is  now  in  my  possession. 

“  ‘  I  am  sir  yr :  Mo  oh  :  Ser‘ 

“  ‘  B.  Washington. 

‘“Feb:  28:  1793.’ 

“The  original  Draft  for  the  Money  was  from  Mary  Burwell  to  John 
Hatty  Norton  dated  19*’’  Nov :  1791,  and  presented  to  me  by  M''  Chas : 
Grymes  with  M"'  Washington®  note  when  the  money  was  paid  and  a  recpt. 
taken  on  the  Draft  as  follows  : 

“  ‘  Eichmond  March  16**’  1793,  Eeceived  the  above  sum  of  four  hun¬ 
dred,  sixty  two  pounds  13/6.  in  full  on  acct:  of  J.  H.  Norton. 

“  ‘  C.  Grymes,  Agt  for  J.  H.  Norton.’ 

“  M’"  Williams  tells  me  that  he  has  found  the  original  Deed  for  the 
Land. 

“  Kemember  us  all  to  M*®  Whiting :  M*  L.  &  family  &  Miss  C. 

“  I  am  affectionately  yrs 

“  A.  Blair.’’ 

The  son  of  the  Mrs.  Whiting  [nee  Elizabeth  Braxton) 
referred  to  in  this  letter,  Francis  Beverly  Whiting,  was  a 
midshipman  on  board  the  Constellation,  the  second  for¬ 
midable  war-vessel  of  the  “  new  navy”  which  bore  the 
flag  of  the  young  Republic  in  1799,  and  under  Commodore 
Truxton  captured  the  French  vessels  Insurgente  and  La 
Vengeance.  Midshipman  Whiting  was  attached  to  this 
vessel  about  the  year  1815,  perhaps  after  the  war  with  the 
pirates  of  the  Barhary  States  and  subsequent  to  the  opera¬ 
tions  of  Commodore  Decatur’s  fleet  against  Algiers. 
Younsr  Whiting;  writes  to  his  brother-in-law.  Dr.  Robert 
H.  Little ; 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORY. 


197 


“  Alexandria,  April  4  : 

“  ‘  I  promised  to  inform  you  as  soon  as  I  received  my  orders  to  which 
ship  I  was  ordered.  The  Secretary  has  attached  me  to  the  old  Constella¬ 
tion,  Captain  Campbell,  I  do  not  expect  to  sail  in  less  than  six  weeks,  but 
I  shall  be  very  much  obliged  to  you  to  send  my  bed  clothes  down  to  the 
city  as  soon  as  possible  to  Washington  as  I  wish  to  get  on  board  and 
choose  my  berth.  I  am  at  present  stationed  in  Alexandria  to  ship  seamen, 
whither  I  have  repaired  this  morning,  so  you  may  naturally  conclude  I 
am  very  much  engaged.” 

JMidshipman  Whiting  at  the  expiration  of  a  cruise  in 
the  Constellation  in  the  Mediterranean  returned  and  re¬ 
signed  his  warrant.  lie  married  Mary,  the  daughter  of 
Colonel  Nathaniel  Burwell,  of  “  Carter  Hall,”  and  settled 
at  Clay  Hill,  Clarke  County,  Va.  His  son  Burwell  mar¬ 
ried  Camilla  Pleasants,  of  Baltimore ;  William  Henry 
married  Mary  Foote,  of  New  York,  and  Francis  Beverly, 
Maria  Meade.  His  daughters  are  Lucy,  who  married 
William  Whiting,  a  cousin,  and  Mary  Blair,  now  living. 

Where  the  Shenandoah  Valley  Railroad  crosses  the 
turnpike  road  between  Berryville  and  Millwood,  Clarke 
County,  Va.,  stands  the  old  stone  Episcopal  Chapel,  huilt 
in  1798,  near  hy  a  cool  and  refreshing  spring  of  limestone 
water  embowered  beneath  a  shady  grove  of  magnificent 
forest  trees,  and  near  hy  is  the  cemetery,  now  annually 
visited  to  strew  flowers  on  the  graves  of  the  dead.  In 
1890  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  old  chapel  was 
celebrated,  although  the  original  building  of  logs  was 
constructed  some  yeai’s  before  1790. 

In  the  cemetery  of  this  old  chapel  lie  buried  many  of 
the  Little  and  Whiting  families,  their  children  and  grand- 
ehildren.  Monuments  in  marble  and  stone  mark  their 
graves,  as  do  handsome  memorial  windows  in  the  old 
chapel  and  in  Christ  Church,  situated  near  Millwood. 

The  reader  is  referred  to  “  Old  Churches,  Ministers, 
and  Families  of  Virginia,”  hy  Bishop  Meade,  and  “Vir¬ 
ginia  Genealogies,”  by  H.  E.  Hayden,  A.M. ;  also  to 


198 


THE  AVHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


“  Sketch  of  the  Late  Colonel  Charles  Little,  of  the  Conti¬ 
nental  Army,”  by  F.  L.  Brockett,  of  Alexandria  'Wash¬ 
ington  Lodge  ISTo.  22,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  Masonic  Temple, 
1874. 

Among  the  children  of  George  Braxton  Whiting,  who 
was  the  personal  friend  of  President  Jackson,  was  Miss 
Elizabeth  Braxton  Whiting,  horn  in  Frederick  County, 
Va.,  August  7,  1809,  and  died  at  Quincy,  Plumas  County, 
Cal.,  ISTovemher  25, 1893.  Her  surviving  sisters  are  Mary 
Blair  Whiting  and  Mrs.  Henrietta  Gould,  and  one  brother, 
Fenton  B.  Whiting,  Esq.,  one  of  the  oldest  pioneers  of 
Plumas,  Cal.  (See  Plumas  National  Bulletin.) 

In  the  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  late  General  John  C. 
Fremont,  who  won  the  title  of  the  “  Pathfinder,”  and  who 
was  so  conspicuous  in  the  acquisition  of  California,  which 
State  he  represented  in  the  United  States  Senate,  1849-51, 
his  biographer  says  :  “  His  father  was  a  Frenchman,  set¬ 
tled  in  Horfolk,  Va.,  and  married  Anne  Beverly  Whiting. 
He  was  a  teacher  of  the  French  language,  and  after  his 
death,  in  1818,  his  widow,  with  three  children,  removed 
to  Charleston,  S.  C.” 

In  the  biography  already  presented  the  omission  occurs 
of  the  statement  that  in  1783  George  Braxton  Whiting, 
who  married  Frances  Horner,  was  horn  in  Frederick 
County,  now  Jefferson  County,  Va.,  at  a  place  called 
Bock  Hall,  and  died  May  18,  1835,  in  Washington  City, 
D.  C.,  aged  fifty-one  years  eleven  months  and  ten  days. 
The  place  called  Bock  Hall  is  now  (1845)  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Hite  Willis,  of  Jefferson  County.  It  is  four 
or  five  miles  southwest  of  Charleston.  The  father  of 
George  Braxton  Whiting,  Henry  Whiting,  Esq.,  in  1776 
received  his  commission  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Berke¬ 
ley  County  from  the  assembly  of  Virginia,  doubtless 
shortly  after  he  removed  from  Gloucester  County,  and 
not  long  afterwards  he  died  prematurely  from  an  illness 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORY. 


199 


brought  on  by  exposure  to  cold  and  the  efforts  to  rescue 
a  lady  from  drowning  in  Goose  Creek,  Fauquier  County. 

The  picture  herewith  presented  of  “  Elmington,” 
Gloucester  County,  Va.,  on  a  small  stream  called  North 
River,  shows  the  home  of  the  Whitings  of  Virginia  and 
of  Colonel  Thomas  Whiting,  commissioner  of  admiralty 
of  Virginia,  1775.  The  place  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  Dun¬ 
can. 

Craighill-Little  Family. 

1755.  Nathaniel  Craighill  and  Patsey  Craighill,  his  wife, 
were  the  founders  of  the  family  in  America. 

William  Price  Craighill,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Patsey, 
was  born  November  23,  1784;  died  March  23,  1824. 

Eliza  Conrad  Little,  wife  of  William  Price  Craighill 
and  daughter  of  William  Little,  was  born  December  28, 
1788;  died  November  15,  1855. 

William  Nathaniel  Craighill,  son  of  William  Price  and 
Eliza  Conrad  C.,  was  born  January  26,  1808;  died  Sep¬ 
tember  6,  1887. 

William  Price  Craighill  (colonel  engineers,  U.  S.  A.) 
was  born  July  1,  1833;  married  Miss  Morsell,  daughter 
of  Judge  Morsell,  of  Maryland.  His  children  were  James 
Morsell,  Bessie  Rutherford,  William  Edward,  Mary, 
Sarah  Eleanor,  John  Marbury  (dead),  and  Nathaniel 
Rutherford. 

Colonel  W.  P.  Craighill  married,  second.  Miss  Jones, 
of  Charlestown,  W.  Va.,  daughter  of  an  Episcopal  clergy¬ 
man.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were  : 

Ellen  Rutherford  Craighill,  born  July  12,  1836;  un¬ 
married. 

James  Brown  Craighill,  minister  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  was  born  July  28,  1838. 

Edward  Addison  Craighill,  physician  and'  druggist, 
Lynchburg,  Va.,  and  late  surgeon  in  the  Southern  army, 
w’as  born  November  2,  1840  ;  married;  no  children. 


200 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


Robert  Templeman  Craighill,  lawyer,  was  born  April 
25,  1843.  His  children  are  Carrie  Templeman,  William 
Hathaniel,  Robert  Ealsy,  Edward  Addison,  Joseph  Hob¬ 
son,  Sarah  Norvelle,  Mattie  Hollyday,  and  Samuel  Pres¬ 
ton. 

George  Peyton  Craighill,  druggist,  born  February  9, 
1851. 

Colonel  William  P.  Craighill,  H.  S.  A.,  writes: 

“My  Grandfather  Brown  was  from  Westmoreland  County.  His 
name  was  James.  He  traces  his  pedigree  back  to  a  Brown  who  came 
with  or  soon  after  John  Smith.  My  great-uncle,  Thomas  Brown,  of 
Florida,  wrote  an  interesting  autobiography,  but  it  is  still  in  manuscript. 
I  have  it. 

“  My  Great-grandmother  Brown  was  Miss  Templeman,  of  Westmore¬ 
land.  My  mother’s  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Kobert  Eutherford,  a 
connection  of  Sir  Walter  Scott’s  mother,  whose  name  was  Eutherford. 
I  have  seen  her  picture  at  Abbottsford  in  Scotland. 

“  I  suppose  you  know  of  the  connection  of  the  McGuires  with  our 
family.  I  have  always  wished  to  know  more  of  the  Little  ancestry.  I 
am  a  member  of  the  St.  Andrews  Lodge  by  virtue  of  my  Little  blood. 

“  My  great-uncle,  John  P.  Little,  was  a  member  of  the  same  lodge 
here,  nearly  a  century  ago.’’ 

The  above  writer.  Colonel  W.  P.  Craighill,  IT.  S.  A., 
married  the  second  time  Miss  Jones,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Jones,  Charlestown,  Va.,  and  the  sister  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Jones,  Millwood,  Clarke  County,  and  late  chaplain  of  the 
Stonewall  Brigade.  His  son  is  a  physician  in  Baltimore, 
Md. ;  another  an  officer  in  the  United  States  army ;  an¬ 
other  at  the  School  of  Technology,  Boston,  Mass. 

Colonel  Craighill  was  offered  the  appointment  of  chief 
of  the  commission  to  survey  the  route  for  the  Panama 
Canal,  which  he  declined,  to  be  promoted  to  the  highest 
grade  of  his  corps.  United  States  army,  viz.,  general, 
which  position  he  still  holds.  In  army  circles  he  has  at¬ 
tained  the  highest  rank  of  any  member  of  the  family. 

In  the  Press,  published  in  Philadelphia,  is  noted  that  in 
February,  1897, 


GENEALOGY  AND  HISTORAL 


201 


“  General  Craiglull,  chief  of  engineers,  was  retired  from 
active  service  in  the  United  States  army.  General  Craig- 
hill’s  relinquishment  of  his  important  office  at  this  time  is 
entirely  voluntary,  and  due  to  a  desire  for  a  short  vaca¬ 
tion,  which  he  vdll  improve  in  looking  for  more  perma¬ 
nent  and  congenial  employment  in  civil  life.  He  has  been 
in  active  military  service  for  forty-three  years,  including 
the  exciting  period  of  the  civil  war  in  this  country,  and 
during  this  time  he  has  not  had  over  six  months’  leave  of 
absence.  General  Craighill  stands  at  the  front  of  his  pro¬ 
fession  in  this  country  as  a  military  and  civil  engineer. 
He  was  born  July  1,  1833,  at  Charlestown,  W.  Va.  (then 
Virginia),  and  entered  the  Military  Academy  from  that 
State  July  1,  1849.  After  four  years  he  was  graduated 
Ho.  2  in  a  class  of  fifty-two  members,  among  whom  were 
General  Sheridan  and  others  on  the  Union  side  during 
the  civil  war  and  General  Hood,  of  the  Southern  army. 
Appointed  a  second  lieutenant  of  the  corps  of  engineers, 
he  has  since  passed  through  all  the  grades  to  brigadier- 
general  and  chief  of  engineers,  to  which  last  named  he 
was  appointed  by  President  Cleveland  May  10,  1895,  suc¬ 
ceeding  General  T.  L.  Casey,  deceased.  During  the  civil 
war  he  received  the  brevets  of  lieutenant-colonel  and  col¬ 
onel  for  meritorious  services.  At  various  times  during 
that  struggle  he  had  charge  of  the  fortifications  at  Wash¬ 
ington,  Baltimore,  Hampton  Hoads,  Charleston,  Savan¬ 
nah,  the  Dry  Tortugas,  and  Delaware  Eiver.  He  was  also 
on  the  special  hoard  to  arrange  defenses  for  San  Francisco 
when  the  French  were  in  Mexico  and  threatened  to  in¬ 
vade  California,  and  immediately  after  the  war  he  served 
on  a  board  to  revise  all  the  fortifications  of  the  United 
States.  For  four  years  he  was  assistant  professor  of  mili¬ 
tary  and  civil  engineering  at  the  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point.  From  1856  to  1859  General  Craighill  was 
assistant  in  the  Engineer  Bureau  in  the  War  Department, 
and  again  from  1866  to  1870  he  was  on  duty  in  the  En¬ 
gineer  Bureau.  In  connection  with  river  and  harbor 
duty  General  Craighill  has  had  active  charge  of  many 
important  public  improvements  all  over  the  United  States 
and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  projects  for  many 
others.  Among  harbors  may  be  mentioned  those  of  Hew 
York,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  Horfolk,  Charleston,  and 


202 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


Savannali.  He  Las  had  much  to  do  with  river  improve¬ 
ment,^  especial]}^  in  Virginia  and  Maryland.  His  record 
as  chief  of  engineers  has  been  most  creditable,  and  was 
signalized  by  the  inauguration  of  a  comprehensive  system 
of  fortifications  in  all  parts  of  the  country  and  also  the 
continuation  of  important  river  and  harbor  works,  for 
which  large  appropriations  became  available  at  the  begin¬ 
ning  of  the  present  fiscal  year. 

“  General  Craighill  has  been  married  twice.  First,  to 
the  daughter  of  tfie  late  Judge  Morsell,  of  Maryland,  and, 
second,  to  Miss  Jones,  daughter  of  Eev.  Mr.  Jones.  He  has 
ever  been  a  consistent  member  of  the  Protestant  Episco¬ 
pal  Church.  Among  his  sons,  one  is  a  physician  in  Balti¬ 
more  and  another  is  an  oflicer  in  the  United  States  army.” 


CHAPTER  HI. 

EETEOSPECTION  AND  EEELECTION. 

The  reader  of  the  preceding  correspondence,  biogra¬ 
phies,  and  diary  of  the  Braxtons,  Blairs,  and  Banisters, 
inclusive  also  of  the  historical  data  connected  with  the 
families  descended  from  them,  viz. :  the  Whitings,  Craig- 
hills,  Horners,  Browns,  and  Littles,  cannot  fail  to  recog¬ 
nize  that  they  represented  the  refined  and  educated  people 
of  the  colony  and  State  of  Virginia,  and  during  their  lives 
in  colonial  times  and  since  held  high  and  respectable  posi¬ 
tions  in  society  and  in  church  and  state.  They  possessed 
also  wealth  in  landed  estates.  At  a  period  during  the 
last  century,  when  the  facilities  of  crossing  the  ocean 
(only  in  sailing  vessels)  were  indifferent,  they  were  wont 
to  visit  the  “  Mother  Country,”  as  England  was  styled ; 
they  imported  thence  costly  goods,  improved  stock,  furni¬ 
ture,  and  building  materials,  and  their  sons  who  studied 
the  professions  of  theology,  law,  or  medicine  became 


RETROSPECTIOX  AND  REFLECTION.  203 

alumni  of  the  English  and  Scotch  universities  and  col¬ 
leges. 

How  accurate  the  touch  to  human  experience  at  its  best 
showing  is  President  John  Blair’s  confession  to  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Braxton,  in  his  letter  dated 

“  TVilliam-sburo,  Va  1769. 

“  I  am  sorry  to  learn  from  your  letter  that  you  are  sadly  teazed  with 
little  debts.  I  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  help  you,  but  it  is  just  my 
own  case.  I  have  much  due  to  me,  but  in  these  sad  times  cannot  get  in 
[enough]  to  pay  my  debts,  and  have  borrowed  to  furnish  the  Table.  [He 
had  inherited  only  ten  thousand  pounds  and,  besides,  had  a  lucrative  office.] 

“  To  Mrs  George  Braxton,  At  ‘  Newington.’  ” 

Again  the  president  of  the  ro^’al  council  of  the  colony 
of  Virginia  writes ; 

“  I  am  glad  to  hear  by  Mary  that  Georgie  is  a  fine  boy  and  reads  in 
the  Bible  very  prettily.  I  pray  God  bless  them  and  give  you  much 
comfort  in  them.”  ...  “I  have  had  no  return  of  y®  Ague  and  am  I 
bless  God  in  perfect  health.  I  heartily  wish  you  well  and  am  Dear  Molly  : 
yr  afiTect :  Father  : 

“  John  Blair. 

“  Williamsburg,  Oct  31 :  1765.” 

While  posterity  will  fully  accord  to  the  worthy  and 
distinguished  writer  full  credit  for  such  pious  utterances 
and  for  his  manly  courage  in  upholding  the  Presbyterian 
minister,  Mr.  Davies,  in  his  right  to  preach  in  Virginia,  his 
piety  must  have  been  shallow  when  he  lent  himself  to  the 
worldly  social  habits  of  that  period  and  won  large  sums 
of  money  at  the  card-table.  No  marvel,  therefore,  that 
his  uncle.  Commissary  James  Blair,  the  author  of  several 
volumes  of  excellent  sermons,  should  have  preached 
against  such  anti-Christian  practices. 

Doubtless  it  must  have  been  with  heartfelt  satisfaction 
and  patriotic  pride  that  Colonel  John  Banister,  soldier 
and  statesman  and  signer  of  the  Articles  of  Confedera¬ 
tion,  and  Carter  Braxton,  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  In¬ 
dependence,  and  John  Blair,  signer  of  the  Constitution  of 


204 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


the  United  States,  beheld  the  final  act  of  the  completion 
of  the  Union  of  all  the  States  upon  principles  of  justice 
and  equality,  in  order  “  to  form  a  more  perfect  union, 
establish  justice,  insure  domestie  tranquillity,  provide  for 
the  common  defence,  promote  the  general  welfare,  and 
secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  pos¬ 
terity.”  May  it  not  be  added  that  since  the  descendants 
of  these  men,  so  illustrious  and  self-sacrificing  in  their 
day,  have  lately  (the  30th  of  April,  1889)  celebrated  the 
centennial  anniversary  of  the  adoption  of  the  Federal 
Constitution,  they  will  ever  have  the  best  reason  to  re¬ 
spect  and  reverence  their  memory,  and  will  teach  their 
children  to  be  loyal  to  the  government,  for  “  the  powers 
that  be  are  ordained  of  God,”  Rom.  xiii.  1,  and  “  the 
Most  High  ruleth  in  the  kingdom  of  men,  and  giveth  it 
to  whomsoever  he  will,  and  setteth  up  over  it  the  basest 
of  men,”  Daniel  iv.  17. 

In  proof  of  the  high-toned  and  patriotic  character  of 
the  mothers  of  Virginia,  the  following  quotation  is  re¬ 
peated  from  the  will  of  Mrs.  Henry  Whiting  {nee  Elizabeth 
Braxton),  recorded  in  the  court  of  Prince  William  County, 
Virginia,  1815.  She  says  : 

“  My  children  will  ever  do  my  memory  the  justice  that 
I  always  sedulously  and  anxiously  endeavored  to  impart 
on  their  hearts  and  minds  from  their  earliest  infancy  ever¬ 
more  to  be  tenderly  afiectionate  to  each  other,  to  walk 
uniformly  and  firmly  steadfast  in  the  paths  of  rectitude 
and  virtue,  with  a  steadfast  faith  in  Christ  Jesus;  to  all 
mankind  strictly  just,  to  the  poor  and  afflicted  a  speedy 
friend,  and  to  their  country  firm  and  faithful,  as  was  our 
great  Washington.  A  life  thus  spent  will  ensure  to  them 
in  the  next  world  eternal  bliss.” 

Such  counsel  surely  breathes  the  spirit  of  the  mother  of 
the  modern  Gracchi  and  reverence  for  him  of  whom  Lord 
Brougham,  the  great  English  statesman,  wrote,  that  “the 


RETROSPECTION  AND  REFLECTION. 


205 


future  progress  of  the  human  race  (from  a  worldly  stand¬ 
point)  would  be  in  proportion  to  the  estimate  that  man¬ 
kind  will  set  upon  the  life  and  achievements  of  George 
Washington.” 

In  connection  with  the  record  of  this  lady,  the  daughter 
of  Colonel  George  Braxton,  the  history  of  the  Braxtons 
during  the  nineteenth  century  reveals  no  degeneracy. 
Both  the  descendants  of  George  and  Carter  Braxton  have 
been  college-bred,  either  at  William  and  Mary  College  or 
the  University  of  Virginia;  some  have  been  physicians  or 
lawyers,  others  have  entered  either  the  army  or  navy  to 
win  honorable  distinction  as  staff  or  medical  officers. 

Though  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  the  proof  is  want¬ 
ing  that  Carter  Braxton,  the  signer,  was  a  Christian,  his¬ 
tory  will  accord  to  him  the  credit  as  God’s  instrument 
of  averting  from  Williamsburg  and  Virginia  the  shedding 
of  the  first  blood  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  which  was 
destined  to  flow  afterwards  at  Lexington,  Mass.,  when, 
with  the  support  of  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Corbin,  he  in¬ 
duced  Patrick  Henry,  at  the  head  of  the  Virginia  militia, 
to  desist  from  seizing  the  old  Powderhorn  Magazine,  the 
arsenal  of  the  royal  colony;  and  subsequently,  by  pub¬ 
lishing  an  address  “  On  the  Government  of  the  Colonies,” 
he  earnestly  sought  to  persuade  his  countrymen  to  desist 
from  extreme  measures. 

The  Rev.  James  Blair,  appointed  commissary  by  the 
bishop  of  London,  may  be  esteemed  as  one  of  the  found¬ 
ers  of  the  educational  system  of  the  United  States.  The 
royal  charter  of  William  and  Mary  College  insured  the 
intellectual  and  religious  culture  of  the  colonists  of  Vir¬ 
ginia,  the  training  of  young  men  for  the  Christian  min¬ 
istry,  and  also  the  primary  education  of  the  Indians.  The 
published  sermons  of  Dr.  Blair  prove  that  he  was  an  en¬ 
lightened  follower  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  an  advocate 
of  the  brotherhood  of  mankind,  and  was  not  bigoted, 


206 


THE  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 


since  on  the  occasion  of  Whitefield’s  visit  to  America  he 
welcomed  him  to  his  pulpit,  though  the  act  was  rebuked 
by  the  bishop  of  London.  His  nephew,  John  Blair,  Sr., 
failed  not,  when  the  acting  governor  of  the  colonj^,  to 
imitate  his  example  when  he  protected  and  allowed  Mr. 
Davies,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  to  preach  the  Gospel  in 
Virginia,  virtually  thereby  suspending  the  statute  law 
which  forbade  dissenting  clergymen  from  officiating. 

The  reader  of  the  correspondence  already  presented  in 
this  volume  cannot  fail  to  remark  that  the  writers,  though 
they  were  doubtless  believers  in  the  Bible  and  were 
church  members,  accepted  the  letter  rather  than  spirit  of 
gospel  truth ;  with  them  it  was  union  Avith  the  church ; 
they  Avould  seem  to  have  known  but  little  of  union 
with  Christ,  who  said  of  his  true  followers,  “  They  are 
not  of  the  world,  even  as  I  am  not  of  the  world.” 
(St.  John  xvii.  14.)  In  proof  of  this  statement,  worldly 
dissipations  were  so  prevalent,  that  Commissary  Blair 
preached  against  such  sins  at  a  time  Avhen  horse-racing, 
theatre-going,  and  card-playing  were  the  pastimes  of 
society  in  Williamsburg;  indeed,  the  memorandum-book 
of  his  own  nephew,  already  quoted  from,  confirms  the 
fact  as  to  card-playing.  The  son.  Judge  John  Blair,  could 
not  have  committed  himself  to  such  follies,  judging  from 
his  letters.  In  one  he  owns  that  “  the  Great  Being  from 
whom  we  have  proceeded,  and  who,  being  the  sole  Author 
of  all  our  enjoyments,  has  a  right  to  withdraw  them  in 
his  own  good  time,  and  whose  goodness  in  his  general 
providence  may  be  as  eminent,  for  aught  we  know,  for 
blessing,  even  when  he  deals  to  us  the  bitter  cup  of  affiic- 
tion.  We  may  all  profit  in  the  school  of  adversity  if  we 
will  but  make  a  right  use  of  its  sacred  lessons.”  Again, 
this  learned  and  great  jurist,  in  the  last  letter  he  wrote  to 
his  sister,  like  himself  stricken  doAvn  by  sickness,  from 
Williamsburg,  July  5, 1799,  says  :  “  The  relief  I  find  most 


RETROSPECTION  AND  REFLECTION. 


207 


powerful  in  my  own  case  I  heartily  recommend  to  you. 
They  are  evils,  indeed,  and  great  ones,  but  they  have 
their  certain  measure  if  we  do  not  increase  them  by 
unnecessary  complaining  of  our  condition  and  by  repin- 
ings  at  Providence,  who  best  knows  what  is  good  for 
man.”  Such  quotations  are  made  from  the  writings  of 
Judge  Blair  to  prove  that  he,  at  least,  fully  apprehended 
the  spirit  and  mind  of  the  Author  of  our  holy  religion, 
so  hidden  if  not  mystified  by  the  teachings  of  his  and 
our  own  day.  The  social  habits  of  that  period  in  Vir¬ 
ginia,  among  the  genteel  families,  at  least,  could  not  have 
favored  the  expansion  or  even  the  retention  of  their 
estates.  Their  deterioration  or  loss  was  undoubtedly  due 
to  prodigality  in  some  form,  perhaps  extravagance  at  the 
stores,  expensive  entertainments,  and  frequenting  the 
fashionable  summer  places. 

This  misfortune  befell  Mrs.  George  Braxton  and  her 
descendants,  who  inherited  large  estates  from  the  Burwell 
family,  once  owned  “  ISTewington”  and  the  Custis  property 
adjoining,  valued  at  twenty  thousand  pounds,  and  subse¬ 
quently  four  thousand  acres  in  Prince  William  and  in 
Western  Virginia.  This  statement  is  amply  corroborated 
by  facts. 

There  can  be  no  question  that  the  maintenance  of  the 
servants  in  Virginia  and  in  other  Southern  States  and  the 
lack  of  manufacturing  enterprise  contributed  to  the  loss 
of  valuable  estates.  The  income  derived  from  the  culture 
of  wheat  and  farm  products  failed  to  meet  expenditures, 
and  the  soil  steadily  deteriorated,  even  under  the  use  of 
expensive  fertilizers. 

At  the  present  period  radical  changes  have  occurred ; 
the  youth  of  both  sexes  have  or  begin  to  acquire  habits  of 
thrift  and  self-reliance,  the  contest  between  labor  and 
capital  is  decided  in  behalf  of  the  original  white  settlers, 
who  will  not  fail  to  develop  the  agricultural  and  mineral 


208  the  WHITING-LITTLE  FAMILIES. 

wealth  of  the  hfew  South,  and  already  have  started  manu¬ 
factories  of  eveiy  description.  Soon  all  grades  of  her 
citizeus  will  possess  a  fair  educatiou,  and  the  ruinous 
blunders  in  the  sphere  of  political  and  social  economy 
will  no  more  occur.  Alien  races  will  no  more  be  a  snare 
and  the  occasion  of  demoralization,  as  they  proved  to  he 
to  their  ancestors. 


DR.  GUSTAVUS  BROWN 
(Ex-Surgeon-General  in  the  Revolutionary  War). 


part  ID. 

THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

DE.  GUSTAVUS  BEOWN  HOENEE. 

Dr.  Gustavus  Brown  Horner  was  born  February  28, 
1761,  at  Hewport,  Charles  County,  Md.,  a  few  miles  from 
Port  Tobacco.  He  was  educated  at  the  best  schools  the 
country  then  afibrded,  and  studied  medicine  under  Dr. 
William  Brown,  of  Alexandria,  Va.,  a  relative  and  an  emi¬ 
nent  physician,  who  afterwards  became  one  of  the  sur¬ 
geon-generals  of  the  army  of  the  Revolution.  The  war 
of  indepeiidence  interrupting  young  Horner’s  studies,  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  soldier,  and  was  with  the  army  at 
Philadelphia  and  in  other  parts  of  Pennsylvania  and  Hew 
Jersey.  Dr.  Brown,  his  relative,  obtained  for  him  the 
commission  of  surgeon’s  mate,  which  he  retained  until 
the  disbandment  of  the  army  in  1783.  He  then  removed 
to  Fauquier  Court-House,  Va.,  now  Warrenton,*  and 
begun  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery,  with  widely 
extending  reputation  and  success  as  a  practitioner.  His 
labors  were  onerous,  as  there  were  but  few  physicians 


*  Warrenton,  mentioned  in  the  text,  was  settled  by  those  or  their  de¬ 
scendants  who  took  part  in  the  Eevolutionary  War,  Drs.  G.  B.  Horner, 
Wallace,  and  Henderson.  The  tradition  is  generally  accepted  that  War¬ 
renton  was  named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  who  sacrificed  his  life 
at  Bunker  Hill  to  secure  the  liberties  of  his  people. 


209 


210 


THE  HORNEE-BROWN  FAMILY. 


then  in  that  region  of  country.  His  father  was  Kobert 
Horner,  of  Ripon,  Yorkshire,  England,  and  he  first  visited 
the  colonies  as  agent  of  his  brother  on  a  commercial  ven¬ 
ture  before  the  Revolution,  and  was  induced  to  settle  in 
Charles  County,  Md.,  where  he  conducted  a  prosperous 
business  of  shipping  tobacco  to  the  mother  county.  The 
disturbed  state  of  the  country  and  his  affairs  rendered  it 
necessary  for  him  to  change  his  residence  to  “  Hippie,” 
Prince  William  County,  Va.,  where  he  died  August,  1773. 
Soon  after  his  return  to  Maryland,  May  11,  1758,  he  was 
married  to  Anna,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown,  the 
widow  of  Rev.  Samuel  Claggett,  an  Episcopal  minister 
and  father  of  the  late  Bishop  Claggett,  of  Maryland.  The 
sons  of  this  marriage  were  Gustavus  Brown  and  William 
Horner,  the  former  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  the  latter 
the  father  of  the  late  Professor  W.  E.  Horner,  the  subject, 
also,  of  a  subjoined  sketch  in  this  book.  Mr.  Horner 
was  esteemed  as  an  upright,  high-toned  gentleman,  a  good 
husband,  father,  and  neighbor,  and  kind  to  his  servants. 
Thus  the  extraction  of  Dr.  G.  B.  Horner  was  that  of  Eng¬ 
lish  and  Scotch  blended.  April  14, 1786,  subsequent  to  his 
settlement  at  Warrenton  in  1783  as  a  physician,  he  married 
Frances  Harrison  Scott,  his  second  cousin,  the  daughter  of 
Captain  James  Scott.  He  acquired  an  extensive  practice, 
and  soon  attained  to  a  speed}^  reputation  as  a  surgeon  and 
physician.  His  mother  and  his  wife’s  grandmother,  Sarah 
Scott,  the  wife  of  Rev.  James  Scott,  were  sisters,  daughters 
of  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown  and  Frances  Eowke,  of  Scotland, 
and  later  of  Port  Tobacco,  Md.  Dr.  Horner  had  by  this 
marriage  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  reached  mature 
age ;  the  others  died  in  infancy. 

(1.)  Frances  Harrison,  married  George  Braxton  Whiting, 
of  Frederick  County,  Va. 

(2.)  Elizabeth  Scott,  married  Thomas  L.  Moore,  Esq., 
an  eminent  laAvyer  of  Warrenton  and  member  of  Congress. 


DR.  GUSTAVUS  BROWN  HORNER. 


211 


(3.)  Gustavus  Brown,  who  migrated  to  Franklin  County, 
Mo.,  and  died  in  1839. 

(4.)  Catherine  Inman,  who  married  John  Marr,  Esq. 
Tliey  were  parents  of  Lieutenant  Robert  Marr,  U.  S.  H.;  of 
Captain  John  Quincy  Marr,  of  the  Southern  army,  1861 ; 
of  Miss  Fanny  Marr,  the  poetess,  and  of  other  children. 

(5.)  Richard  Brent,  Esq.,  father  of  Frederick  Horner, 
M.D.,  U.  S.  H.,  the  author;  of  Robert  L.  Horner;  of  Dr. 
F.  Horner;  of  Mrs.  Frank  Houston  Wyeth,  of  Philadel¬ 
phia;  of  Richard  H.  Horner,  Esq.,  of  the  Southern  army, 
1861;  of  Elizabeth  Moore  Horner;  deceased,  Mary, 
Frances,  George  B.,  William. 

(6.)  John  Scott,  a  sketch  of  whose  life  is  subjoined. 
His  son,  G.  F.  Horner,  Esq.,  of  Ripon,  has  a  son,  Gus¬ 
tavus  Brown. 

(7.)  Frederick  Horner,  Sr.,  M.D.,  married  Ann  Lovell, 
and  had  numerous  sons,  some  of  whom  are  in  Texas; 
Gustavus  Brown,  artist,  resides  near  Warrenton. 

(8.)  Marianna  Tabb,  who  married  James  Bankhead 
Thornton,  an  eminent  lawyer,  of  Caroline  County,  Ya., 
and  subsequently  of  Memphis,  Tenn.,  a  legal  author. 
Their  son,  Gustavus  B.  Thornton,  M.D.,  was  an  eminent 
surgeon  of  the  Southern  army  and  a  sanitarian,  who  saved 
the  people  of  Memphis,  Tenn.,  from  terrible  loss  during 
the  scourge  of  epidemic  yellow  fever  in  1878-79. 

Dr.  Horner  enjoyed  robust  physical  health,  and  while 
serving  in  the  Revolutionary  army  had  become  inured  to 
hardship  and  privation,  which  enabled  him  to  bear  the 
exposures  and  fatigue  of  an  extensive  practice  over  a 
rough  and  hilly  country  on  horseback,  then  the  sole  mode 
of  locomotion.  He  suffered  several  severe  attacks  of  rheu¬ 
matism,  which  confined  him  to  his  bed.  He  was  several 
times  elected  to  serve  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  was 
also  the  presidential  elector  of  his  district  when  the  position 
was  esteemed  an  honor,  and  was  prominent  as  a  candidate 


14 


212 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


for  Congress,  adhering  steadfastly  to  the  Republican  party 
of  that  period,  as  opposed  to  the  Federal.  He  was  six 
feet  in  stature,  weighed  two  hundred  and  fifty  pounds, 
and  was  remarkable  for  great  personal  strength.  In  fig¬ 
ure  he  was  a  model  of  manliness.  Ilis  eyes  were  dark, 
and  under  the  excitement  of  earnest  conversation  or  great 
emotion  blazed  with  expression.  The  family  record  says  : 

“  Three  years  before  his  death  the  eftect  produced  upon 
him  by  his  religious  convictions  was  indeed  marvellous. 
It  made  him  a  new  man,  subdued  his  pride  and  ambition 
and  selfishness  and  love  of  the  world,  and  turned  all  his 
energies  into  a  new  channel,  which  continued  to  increase 
to  the  end  of  his  life,  so  that  patience,  meekness,  and  gen¬ 
tleness  by  degrees  took  the  place  of  his  natural  impetu¬ 
osity  and  vehemence,  making  a  total  change  of  character. 
What  a  contrast !” 

The  early  years  of  his  life  had  been  spent  in  the  army, 
in  camps,  and  hospitals,  and  those  later  in  the  arduous 
pursuit  of  fame  and  fortune.  High-spirited  and  uncom¬ 
promising,  quick  and  rather  irascible  naturally,  firm  and 
unchangeable  in  his  moral  and  political  principles,  loving 
and  engaged  in  the  exciting  political  and  party  questions 
which  prevailed  in  ante-colonial  and  subsequent  times, 
at  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  he  was,  like  his 
chieftain  and  friend,  Thomas  Jefterson,  resolute  to  defend 
and  preserve  the  integrity  of  the  Republic.  After  his  con¬ 
version,  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Marr,  he  became  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  confirmed  at  “  Tur¬ 
key  Run”  Church,  near  Warrenton,  by  Bishop  Moore. 

In  the  winter  of  1814-15  an  epidemic  most  fatal  and 
unmanageable  prevailed  in  some  of  the  Hew  England 
States  and  in  Eastern  Virginia,  known  as  typhus  pneu¬ 
monia,  or  pleurisy.  Hr.  Horner  had  many  cases,  and 
decided  on  a  plan  of  treatment,  viz. :  of  depletion,  first 
introduced  by  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush.  He  saw  his  last  pa¬ 
tient  on  Friday  morning,  January  20,  and  returned  home 


DR.  GUSTAVUS  BROWN  HORNER. 


213 


after  a  long  ride,  complaining  of  indisposition,  chiefly 
referable  to  his  head,  only,  his  sons  Gustavus  and  Richard 
being  at  home.  After  spending  a  disturbed  night  he  sent 
for  a  neighbor,  who  was  prevailed  upon  to  bleed  him. 
Afterwards  Dr.  Thomas  Henderson  was  called.  At  his 
own  suggestion  he  was  bled  again,  and  then  a  third  time, 
remarking  that  if  the  practice  was  doubtful  he  would 
abide  by  it  in  person,  as  he  had  practised  it  upon  others. 
On  the  third  night  he  was  submitted  to  Jenning’s  sweating 
apparatus,  which  produced  a  copious  perspiration.  After¬ 
wards  he  begun  to  sink,  and  died  Tuesday  morning, 
January  24,  1815,  in  the  fifty-fourth  year  of  his  age. 
lie  lies  buried  at  “  Clermont,”  the  family  residence  of 
Captain  James  Scott,  near  Warrenton,  Va.  The  spot  is 
marked  by  a  tombstone.  His  wife*  died  in  Washington 
City,  in  1837,  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  G.  B. 
Whiting,  aged  seventy-one,  and  lies  buried  in  Holmead 


*  The  wife  of  Dr.  Horner  connected  herself  with  the  Presbyterian 
church  under  “  old  Parson  Williamson,”  there  being  no  Episcopal  church 
in  Warrenton.  The  legal  representatives  of  Dr.  Horner  presented  to 
Congress  a  claim  for  his  Revolutionary  services — Bill  343,  to  the  Thirty- 
fourth  Congress,  May  23,  1856,  recounting  his  militarj'  record.  The  bill 
had  passed  the  Senate  in  the  Twenty-fourth  and  Twenty-fifth  Congresses, 
but  was  not  acted  on  by  the  House  of  Representatives  for  want  of  time. 
A  copy  of  the  petition  may  be  found  in  full  in  “  Virginia  Genealogies,” 
“  Brown  Family,”  page  187,  Hayden,  and  also  Dr.  Horner’s  “  Address  to 
the  Freeholders  of  Culpeper  and  Fauquier  Counties,”  when  he  presented 
himself  as  a  candidate  for  Congress,  concluding  his  address  in  the  follow¬ 
ing  language : 

“  From  the  first  organization  of  the  Federal  Government  till  the  present 
period  (viz.,  December  8,  1810),  I  have  constantly  acted  with  the  Repub¬ 
lican  party  and  firmly  supported  the  administration  of  the  late  President, 
whose  character  I  greatly  admire  (viz.,  Mr.  Jefferson).  I  can  add  that  the 
measures  of  the  present  administration  have  generally  met  my  warm  ap¬ 
probation.  In  the  wisdom  and  purity  of  Mr.  Madison  I  have  the  great¬ 
est  confidence.  I  imagine  it  will  be  unnecessary  further  to  dilate  on  the 
subject,  since  the  great  [general?]  outlines  of  my  political  principles  will 
enable  you  to  fill  up  the  subordinate  parts  with  sufficient  facility  and 
accuracy.  “  Gustavus  Brown  Horner. 

“Fauquier  Court-House,  December  8,  1810.” 


214 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


Cemetery.  The  likeness  of  Dr.  Horner,  herewith  pre¬ 
sented,  was  executed  hy  William  Aldridge,  an  English 
artist,  in  1807. 


CHAPTER  H. 

HISTORY,  CORRESPONDENCE,  ETC. 

With  the  exception  of  the  records  of  the  register  of  the 
Cathedral  and  the  Cemetery  of  Ripon,  Yorkshire,  Eng¬ 
land,  the  letters  herewith  appended  are  the  earliest  data 
in  the  possession  of  the  author  of  the  Horner  family. 
Mrs.  Simpson,  Berlin,  Germany,  has  a  family  Bible  and 
other  old  records  of  the  Horners  who  lived  in  Ripon, 
England,  perhaps  the  branch  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  and  not 
of  the  Anglo-Horman  origin  of  the  family.  The  Horners 
are  undoubtedly  of  Saxon  descent.  Some  reside  in  Ge¬ 
neva,*  Switzerland;  they  are  numerous  in  Yorkshire, 
England,  and  in  the  United  States, — in  Pennsylvania,  Vir¬ 
ginia,  and  Horth  Carolina, — and  are  identified  as  mer¬ 
chants,  farmers,  physicians,  lawyers,  politicians,  and  army 
and  navy  surgeons,  also  as  teachers  and  professors. 

Francis  Horner,  the  eminent  parliamentarian,  was  dis¬ 
tinguished  for  talent  and  statesmanship ;  Professor  Wil¬ 
liam  E.  Horner,  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  will 
ever  be  remembered  as  the  author  of  a  standard  treatise 
on  human  anatomy,  the  discoverer  of  the  “  tensor  tarsi 
muscle,”  and  as  one  of  the  founders  of  the  “  Wistar-Hor- 
ner  Museum,”  and  the  late  James  Hunter  Horner,  M.A., 


*  Dr.  Horner,  an  eminent  oculist,  of  Geneva,  Switzerland,  was  a  dele¬ 
gate  to  the  International  Medical  Congress  which  met  in  London,  Eng¬ 
land.  It  was  this  eminent  man  who  showed  that  in  one  hundred  asylums 
for  the  blind  in  different  countries,  of  those  subjects  who  had  suffered 
from  ophthalmia  neonatorum  twenty  to  seventy-nine,  an  average  of 
thirty-three,  per  cent,  were  blind  owing  to  this  cause. 


GCSTAVUS  BROWN  HORNER,  M.D. 

(Ex-Assistant  Surgeon,  (Jniteci  States  Army,  in  Revolutionary  War). 


HISTORY,  CORRESPONDENCE,  ETC. 


215 


LL.D.,  as  the  founder  of  the  Horner  Military  School  at 
Oxford,  H.  C.,  one  of  the  foremost  educational  colleges 
of  the  Southern  States.  Dr.  Horner,  optician,  Geneva, 
Switzerland,  was  a  delegate  to  the  International  Medical 
Congress  at  London. 

The  myth  of  Jack  Horner  of  Christmas-pie  memory  is 
thus  chronicled  by  an  English  writer : 

“  When  Henry  VHI.  suppressed  the  monasteries  and 
drove  the  monks  from  their  nests,  the  title-deeds  of  the 
abbey  of  Mells  were  demanded  by  the  commissioners. 
The  abbot  of  Glastonbury  determined  that  he  would  send 
them  to  London,  and  as  the  documents  were  very  valuable 
and  the  road  infested  with  thieves,  it  was  difficult  to  get 
them  to  the  metropolis  safely.  To  accomplish  this  end, 
he  devised  a  very  ingenious  plan.  He  ordered  a  savory 
pie.  to  be  made,  and  inside  he  put  the  documents — the 
finest  filling  a  pie  ever  had — and  entrusted  this  dainty  to 
a  lad  named  Horner  to  carry  to  London  to  deliver  safely 
into  the  hands  for  whom  it  was  intended.  But  the  jour¬ 
ney  was  long  and  the  day  cold,  and  the  boy  was  hungry 
and  the  pie  was  tempting,  and  the  chance  of  detection 
was  small.  So  the  boy  broke  off  a  piece  of  the  pie  and 
beheld  the  parchment  within.  He  pulled  it  forth,  inno¬ 
cently  enough,  wondering  how  it  could  have  found  its 
way  there  tied  up  in  pastry,  and  arrived  in  town.  The 
parcel  was  delivered,  hut  the  title-deeds  of  Mells  Abbey 
were  missing.  The  fact  was  that  Jack  had  them  in  his 
pocket.  These  were  the  juiciest  plums  in  the  pie.  Great 
was  the  rage  of  the  commissioners  and  heavy  the  ven¬ 
geance  they  dealt  out  to  the  monks.  But  Master  Jack 
Horner  kept  his  secret,  and  when  peaceable  times  were 
restored  he  claimed  the  estates  and  received  them.” 

Certain  it  is  that  Shakespeare  in  his  play  of  Henry  VI. 
also  gives  notoriety  to  another  of  the  Horner  family,  how¬ 
ever  mythical  both  examples  may  be. 

The  following  letters  will  show  that  the  Horner  family 
of  England  were  engaged  largely  in  foreign  trade : 


216 


THE  HOENER-BEOWN  FAMILY. 


“  To  Mr  William  Mason 
“  Mercht ; 

“  Falmouth  :  Virginia 

“  Pr  the  Cambridge 
“  Capt  :  Hutton. 


“  Liverpool  :  Aug‘  25*'^  1773. 

“Mr.  William  A.  Mason, 

“  Sir  ;  I  duly  received  your  much  esteemed  favor  of  the  Janr  last 
by  the  York  acquainting  me  of  your  having  shipt  four  Hhds  of  Tobacco 
by  her  to  my  address  and  desiring  me  to  send  you  the  goods  within  men¬ 
tioned  by  my  own  ship ;  which  would  have  been  punctually  complied 
with  had  that  ship  brought  the  Tobacco ;  hut,  as  she  did  not  your  Letter 
was  thrown  aside  as  of  no  use ;  and  tho ;  there  came  a  Bill  of  Lading  for 
three  Hhds  of  Tobacco  shipt  by  you  in  the  Cambridge  yet  as  there  was 
no  letter  from  you,  I  could  not  tell  what  to  do  with  it  ’till  this  day,  that 
I  was  looking  for  another  Letter  and  found  yours  above  mentioned  which 
I  was  sorry  to  see  so  late  as  my  ship  was  clear’d  out  three  days  before  and 
the  Goods  could  not  he  got  out  of  the  country  under  a  fortnight  or  three 
weeks  and  are  not  to  be  had  in  Town,  or  should  have  been  sent  you  nor, 
do  I  know  of  any  other  ship  bound  soon  to  Virginia  or  should  have  sent 
them.  Had  you  wrote  by  the  Cambridge  this  would  not  have  happened 
and  am  extremely  sorry  I  had  forgot  your  letter  by  the  York. 

“Your  three  Hhds:  of  Tobacco  are  of  a  middling  kind,  and  will  do 
everything  in  my  power  to  make  the  most  of  them,  but  the  price  is  con¬ 
siderably  reduced  and  very  little  demand  at  present,  the  Glascow  merchts 
have  sold  to  the  French  at  Ifd  and  we  expect  it  will  be  the  Price  here 
tho  :  they  have  not  bought  any  here  lately.  As  soon  as  your  Tobacco  is 
sold  I  will  render  you  sales  of  them ;  and  should  be  glad  of  your  assist¬ 
ance  in  loading  hack  the  Cambridge,  assuring  you  of  my  best  Endeavors 
for  your  Interest. 

“  I  am  with  much  respect  Sir 

“  your  obliged  hble  Ser*’ 

II  W’“  Horner.’’ 


“  Mr  William  Horner 
“  Liverpool  Aug*  25  :  1773. 
“Eece4  27*'‘  Feby  1774. 


“Invoice  of  Goods  shiped  by  William  Horner  on  board  the  Nancy, 
John  Eobinson  Master  for  Eappahanock  River  in  Virginia  on  the  proper 
account  and  Risque  of  Mr  W“  A.  Mason  Mercht  in  Falmouth . 


HISTORY,  CORRESPONDENCE,  ETC. 


217 


“  Liverpool  SepP  1773 


WA. 

No  1.  a  Bale  conP, 

20,  Pieces  White  Cottons  No.  1.  20 

yds  ea :  @  14d  p . 

23.  6.  8. 

1.  piece  Strip’d  Linsey  No  1.  37 

yards  12J  p . 

1.  18.  6J. 

W  rapper  and  Card . 

4,  6. 

No  2  a  Bale  conting 

20  pieces  White  Cottons  No  2,  20  yds 

Ea  @  12d  p . 

20. 

1.  Piece  Strip’d  Linsoy  No:  2,  36 

yards  10|  p . 

1.  11.  6. 

Wrapper  and  Card . 

4.  6. 

Charges 

Carriage  to  Liverpool . 

1.  9.  3. 

Cartage  and  Porterage . 

IS**  B.  Lading  6*1 . 

2. 

Primage . 

2. 

Commission  on  £48.  18.  11^  @  2.1 

p  ct . 

1.  4.  5. 

25.  9.  8J. 


21.  16. 

47.  5.  8J. 


2.  17.  8. 
£50.  3. 


“  Liverpool  Octo'  25 :  1773 

“Sir: 

“The  Cambridge  having  the  misfortune  to  be  put  ashore  going  out, 
gave  me  an  opportunity  of  sending  for  the  above  goods,  but  the  other 
part  of  your  order  being  at  a  great  distance,  I  was  fearfull,  they  would 
not  be  in  time,  tho’  as  it  happen’d  there  would  have  been  time  enough, 
for  no  ships  have  been  able  to  get  from  hence  of  near  two  months,  owing 
to  the  strong  westerly  Winds  which  I  fear  will  bring  both  your  Goods 
and  my  own  to  a  late  Market  These  things  we  must  submit  to. 

“  As  I  imagine  Mr  Ward  will  be  unable  to  Load  this  vessel  of  himself, 
I  shall  be  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  assistance  which  you  may  be 
assured  I  will  endeavour  to  make  as  advantageous  to  you  as  I  can. 

“  I  am  with  much  respect  Sir 

“  Your  most  obliged  ser‘ 

“  W  Horner. 

“  Tobacco,  l|d  to  2Jd,  a  very  slow  sale.” 


The  reader  will  notice  the  difference  between  the  time 
made  by  vessels  crossing  the  Atlantic — nearly  six  months 
— and  our  ocean  steamers,  which  nowadays  make  the 
voyage  in  about  ten  days. 


218 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


Herewith  is  a  specimen  of  a  hill  of  exchange  : 

“Virginia,  30““  May  1760.  Exchange  for  £40.12.9.  sterling.  At 
thirty  Days  sight  of  this  my  fourth  Bill  of  Exchange  my  First,  Second, 
and  Third  (of  the  same  Tenor  &  date)  not  paid  to  William  Allison — or 
order  the  sum  of  forty  pound  twelve  shillings  &  nine  pence  sterling  (for 
value  in,  Currant  money  here  received)  at  time  make  Payment  and  place 
it  to  account  of 

“  Your  most  hhle  ser* 

“  Robert  Carter 

“Messrs  James  Buchanan  &  Co, 

“  Merchts  in  London.’’ 


The  Eobert  Carter  above  was  commonly  known  in  the 
colony  of  Virginia  as  “  King  Carter.” 

“Virginia  May  14:  1786.  Exchange  for  £60  sterling.  At  sixty 
Days  after  sight  of  this  my  Third  Bill  of  Exchange  my  first  and  second 
(of  the  same  tenor  &  Date)  not  paid  pay  to  Messrs  William  &  David  A 
Mason  or  order  the  sum  of  sixty  pound  (in  London)  sterling  (for  Eighty 
four  pound  currant  money  here  received)  at  time  make  Payment  and  place 
it  to  Account  as  I  advise. 

“  Will  :  Horner 

“  To  Messrs  Crosbie  &  Greenwood, 

“  Merchants,  Liverpool.” 


In  “  Memoirs  and  Correspondence  of  Francis  Horner, 
M.P.,”  edited  by  his  brother,  Leonard  Horner,  Esq., 
F.R.S.,  it  is  stated  : 

“  Francis  Horner  was  the  eldest  son  of  Mr.  John  Hor¬ 
ner,  a  merchant  of  Edinburgh,  and  of  Joanna  Baillie,  and 
was  born  August  12, 1778.  His  paternal  grandfather  ivas 
a  native  of  Yarm,  in  Yorkshire,  who  married  Miss  Hay, 
a  lady  from  Edinburgh.  He  died  very  young,  and  his 
widow  returned  vdth  three  infant  children  to  her  native 
place.” 

In  a  subsequent  page  further  notice  will  be  made  of  the 
life  and  character  of  Francis  Horner.  The  subject  is  re¬ 
ferred  to  here  to  prove  that  the  several  branches  of  the 
Horner  family  may  all  be  traced  back  to  the  county  of 


HISTORY,  CORRESPONDENCE,  ETC. 


219 


Yorkshire,  England,  where  the  author  was  readily  able  to 
trace,  as  it  were,  two  distinct  roots,  viz. :  Anglo-Saxon 
and  Yorman.  In  the  Cathedral  Cemetery  of  Ripon,  York¬ 
shire,  can  be  seen  many  tombstones  and  monuments  in 
memory  of  the  members  of  the  family,  the  history  and 
record  of  which  is  carefully  preserved  by  the  sexton  of 
the  cathedral,  showing  that  for  centuries  the  Horners  were 
aldermen  and  high  officials  of  Ripon. 

The  reader  is  referred  to  the  interesting  volume  above 
quoted  from. 

Robert  Horner,  a  native  of  Ripon,  Yorkshire,  England, 
first  came  to  Port  Tobacco,  Md.,  as  agent  of  his  brother,  a 
tobacco  merchant,  in  1753.  He  settled  in  Charles  County, 
Md.,  then  he  removed  to  Dipple,  Prince  William  County, 
Va.,  where  he  died  in  1773.  May  11,  1758,  he  married 
Mrs.  Anna  Claggett,  widow  of  Rev.  Samuel  Claggett, 
the  father  of  the  late  Bishop  Claggett.*  His  eldest  son, 
Gustavus  Brown  Horner,  was  a  surgeon  in  the  army  of 


*  Robert  Horner’s  mother  was  Catharine  Inman,  the  second  daughter 
of  Robert  Inman,  of  Beverley,  Yorkshire,  England,  whose  descendants 
still  reside  in  this  part  of  England.  In  this  country  the  name  of  Inman 
is  borne  by  males  and  female's  of  the  Horner  family  of  Warrenton,  Va. 
The  first  Episcopal  visitation  to  Hamilton  Parish,  which  embraced  Prince 
William  and  Fauquier  Counties,  in  1814-15,  was  made  by  Bishop  Moore 
at  Turkey  Run  Church.  He  then  confirmed  fifty  or  more  persons,  male 
and  female,  one  of  whom  exclaimed,  “This  is  Pentecost  indeed!”  Dr. 
Gustavus  B.  Horner  and  his  daughter,  a  young  girl  of  eighteen  summers 
(now,  in  1876,  Mrs.  Catharine  S.  Marr),  were  among  the  number.  Only 
that  young  girl  survives,  an  aged  woman,  her  head  whitened  by  nearly 
eighty  winters,  her  powers  failing,  and  memory  dropping  from  its  relaxing 
fingers  one  by  one  the  objects  it  once  firmly  held,  and  yet  still  recalling  a 
vivid  recollection  of  that  rite  and  going  down  to  the  grave  calmly  with 
the  hope  there  first  kindled  in  her  heart  by  a  Saviour’s  love.  Her  father, 
as  already  stated,  was  wont  to  marvel  that  he  had  wasted  so  many  j)re- 
cious  years — to  him  years  of  conflict  during  the  Revolutionary  struggle 
and  such  as  followed  to  establish  the  first  American  Republic  on  a  basis 
of  equity  and  in  harmony  with  divine  and  human  law.  (See  sermon  by 
Rev.  J.  S.  Lindsay,  St.  James’s  Church,  Warrenton,  August  5,  1876.) 


220 


THE  HOENER-BEOWN  FAMILY. 


the  Revolution,  presidential  elector  of  Virginia,  and  mem¬ 
ber  of  the  Leg'islature  of  Virginia. 

His  mother,  Annie,  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Gustavus 
Brown,  a  native  of  Salton,  Haddingtonshire,  Scotland, 
near  Edinburgh,  as  stated,  first  married  Rev.  S.  Claggett ; 
second,  Robert  Horner,  and,  third,  Samuel  Hanson. 

The  second  son  was  William  Horner,  merchant,  of  War- 
rentou,  Va.,  the  father  of  William  E.  Horner,  professor  of 
anatomy  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of  G.  R. 
Brown  Horner,  surgeon.  United  States  Havy,  both  of 
whom  were  also  distinguished  medical  writers. 

Record  of  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown,  his  children  and  family, 
and  copied  from  the  original  written  in  the  prayer-hook 
of  Dr.  G.  Brown,  and  forwarded  to  Robert  E.  Peyton, 
M.D.,  by  Mrs.  Matilda  L.  A.  Chapman,  of  Charles  County, 
Md.,  December  12,  1854: 


“  April  1,  A.D.  1765 :  On  April  20,  1689,  was  baptized 
Gustavus  Brown  (horn  the  same  day) :  Parents,  Gustavus 
Brown,  son  of  Richard  Brown  (minister  of  Salton,  in  Scot¬ 
land,  in  the  reign  of  Charles  I.),  and  Jean  Mitchaelson, 
daughter  of  George  Mitchaelson,  of  the  house  of  Middle- 
ton,  Dalkeith. 

“I  came  into  Maryland  in  May,  1708;  1711,  married 
Frances  Fowke,  daughter  of  Gerald  Fowke,  in  Uanje- 
moy,  born  February  2,  1691,  of  which  marriage  the  fol¬ 
lowing  children  were  born,  viz. : 

“  Gustavus  Brown,  or  Broun,  as  called  in  Scotland,  was 
born  December  7,  1711. 

“  Frances  Brown  was  born  July  29, 1713 ;  married  Rev. 
Moncure. 

“  Sarah  Brown  was  born  August  29, 1715  ;  married  Rev. 
Scott. 

“Mary  Brown  was  horn  December  8,  1717;  married 
Rev.  Hopkins  ;  afterwards  Mr.  Threlkeld. 

“  Christian  Brown  was  born  August  29,  1720 ;  married 
Mr.  Graham  and  died  soon  afterwards. 

“  Gustavus  Brown  was  horn  September  5,  1722,  and 


HISTORY,  CORRESPONDENCE,  ETC.  221 

died  on  the  eighth  day,  as  did  my  eldest  son  in  the  ninth 
month. 

“  Elizabeth  Brown,  born  October  5,  1723;  married  Mr. 
"Wallace. 

“  Richard  Brown,  born  December  2,  1725. 

“  Gustavus  Brown,  born  May  30,  1727 ;  died  June  9, 
following. 

“Jean  Brown  was  born  June  1,  1728;  married  Rev. 
Isaac  Campbell. 

“  Ann  married  Rev.  Samuel  Claggett,  then  Robert 
Horner,  and  then  Samuel  Hanson.” 

H.B.  Dr.  Brown  fails  to  mention  in  this  record  Cecilia 
Brown,  who  married  Dr.  John  Key  and  then  Mr.  Thomas 
Bond,  of  Marbury,  Charles  County,  Md. 

By  a  second  marriage  Dr.  Brown  had  two  children, 
viz. :  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown,  of  Rose  Hill,  near  Port  To¬ 
bacco,  Md.,  and  Margaret,  who  married  Thomas  Stone, 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  1776. 

The  following  portraits  are  in  possession  of  different 
members  of  the  family,  viz. :  Mrs.  Britton,  nSe  Horner, 
Warrenton,  Va.,  and  Thomas  W.  Swann,  Esq.,  Mt.  Au¬ 
burn,  near  Alexandria,  Va. : 

(1.)  William  Horner,  merchant,  Warrenton. 

(2.)  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown,  of  Rich  Hill,  Md. 

(3.)  Rev.  Richard  Brown,  Rose  Hill,  near  Port  Tobacco, 
Md. 

(4.)  Mr.  Thomas  Swann,  Mount  Auburn,  near  Alexan¬ 
dria,  Va. 

(5.)  Helen  Bailey,  wife  of  Rev.  Richard  Brown. 

(6.)  Mrs.  Claggett,  who  married  Robert  Horner,  an  En¬ 
glish  tobacco  factor,  who  came  from  Ripon,  England. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown,  and  was 
married  three  times.  She  was  the  mother  of  Gustavus 
B.  Horner,  M.D.,  and  of  William  Horner,  merchant,  of 
Warrenton,  Va. 

In  1708  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown  came  to  America  and 


222 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


settled  at  Nanjemoy,  Charles  County,  Md.  He  was  twice 
married,  and  his  family  consisted  of  nine  daughters,* 
jocularly  styled  the  Hine  Muses  hy  their  father  from  the 
identity  of  numhei’s.  His  daughter  Sarah  was  married 
to  Rev.  James  Scott,  a  colonial  Episcopal  minister  of  Det- 
tingen  Parish,  Prince  William  County,  Ya. ;  issue,  James, 
Gustavus,  and  Rev.  John  Scott.  His  daughter  Kitty 
married  Colonel  Blackburn,  and  was  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Henry  Turner,  of  “  Wheatland,”  and  Mrs.  Bushrod 
Washington,  of  “  Mount  Yernon.”  Three  distinguished 
men  have  descended  from  the  Misses  Brown,  viz. :  Late 
Judge  John  Scott,  of  Fauquier;  Henry  Winter  Davis,  of 
Maryland,  and  Hon.  William  Scott,  of  Erie,  Pa.  In  a 
Bible  printed  in  Edinburgh  in  1676  is  the  following  entry  : 
“  Mem.,  that  I  Gustavus  Brown  was  born  April  10,  1689, 
in  Dalkeith,  Scotland;  parents,  Gustavus  Brown,  son  of 
Rev.  Richard  Brown,  minister  of  Salton,  Scotland,  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  I.  of  England,  and  Jane  Mitchaelson,  of 
the  house  of  Middleton,  Heal,  Dalkeith.”  The  mother 
of  Rev.  Richard  Brown  was  a  niece  of  the  great  Protes¬ 
tant  hero,  Gustavus  Adolphus,  and  the  old  Swedish  names 
of  Christine  and  Gustavus  have  been  perpetuated  to  the 
present  day. 


*  In  “American  Medical  Biography,”  article  “William  E.  Horner,” 
the  author  thus  writes  of  the  “  Nine  Misses  Brown  :”  “They  were  alike 
noted  for  the  graces  of  person  and  mind,  for  beauty,  amiability,  and  in¬ 
telligence.  They  were  all  married,  and  each  one  has  left  a  numerous 
train  of  posterity.  Of  these  all  are  or  were  respectable,  many  distin¬ 
guished.  In  the  past  generation,  one  was  a  learned  bishop  of  the  Prot¬ 
estant  Episcopal  Church,  many  fought  for  liberty  on  the  fields  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  while  others  were  eminent  in  the  various  pursuits 
of  life.  In  the  present  day  (1861)  one  sits  upon  the  bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States,  another  upon  that  of  Virginia,  another  is 
United  States  senator,  and  another  is  the  attorney-general  of  Virginia 
(1892).  Many  have  held  other  high  civil  positions,  and  several  bore 
their  country’s  banner  and  shed  their  blood  foremost  in  the  battles  in 
Mexico.” 


WILLIAM  E.  HOENER. 


223 


Ill  the  national  metropolis,  Washington  City,  reside 
several  interesting  branches  of  the  Horner  family,  among 
whom  are  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Firman  R.  Horner  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Charles  R.  Horner.  Their  children  are  Edward, 
Violet,  and  Marcia,  and  Charlie,  Louis,  and  Warner 
Horner.  Mr.  Alfred  B.  Horner,  an  official  of  the  War 
and  Havy  Departments,  the  son  of  the  late  Surgeon  Gus- 
tavus  Brown  Horner,  U.  S.  H.,  is  a  most  genial  young 
gentleman,  and  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  Army  and 
Havy  Club,  of  Washington,  having,  also,  a  residence  in 
Warrenton,  Va. 


CHAPTER  HI. 

WILLIAM  E.  HORNER. 

In  “American  Medical  Biography,”  by  Gross,  may  be 
found  an  interesting  sketch  of  the  life  of  Professor  W.  E. 
Horner,  and  from  which  is  taken  the  following  extract : 

“  William  Edmonds  Horner  was  born  at  Warrenton, 
Fauquier  County,  Va.,  on  June  3,  1793.  His  grand¬ 
father,  Robert  Horner,  was  an  Englishman  by  birth,  of 
Ripon,  England.  He  settled  at  Port  Tobacco,  Md.,  and 
married  Anne,  widow  of  Rev.  Samuel  Claggett  and  daugh¬ 
ter  of  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown.  Robert  Horner  died  when 
young,  leaving  but  two  children.  Dr.  Gustavus  B.  Hor¬ 
ner,  a  surgeon  of  the  Revolutionary  army  and  subse¬ 
quently  an  eminent  physician  of  Warrenton,  Va.,  and 
William,  a  merchant  of  Warrenton,  and  the  father  of 
Professor  W.  E.  Horner.  Early  in  life  young  Horner 
displayed  a  talent  for  mechanics;  seeing  a  small  vessel 
on  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland,  on  returning  home  he 
made  a  miniature  craft  and  sailed  it  on  a  pond  for  the 
amusement  of  himself  and  playmates.  At  eleven  years 
of  age  (1805)  he  was  placed  under  the  tuition  of  Rev. 
Charles  O’Heill,  at  Dumfries,  Prince  William  County, 
Va.  Among  the  pupils  of  this  school  was  Bushrod 


224 


THE  HOENER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


Washington,  who  became  judge  and  the  proprietor  of 
Mount  Vernon.  In  1809  young  Horner  begun  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  John  Spence,  of  Dumfries.  Three 
years  were  spent  in  his  office,  except  during  the  time  he 
attended  two  sessions  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
In  1812  he  begun  to  reside  in  Philadelphia.  As  yet  he 
had  not  obtained  his  degree.  When  war  was  declared 
with  Great  Britain  he  procured  a  commission  as  surgeon’s 
mate,  U.  S.  A.,  July  3,  1813,  and  reported  to  Major-Gen¬ 
eral  Brown  at  Buffalo.  He  witnessed  and  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Lundy’s  Lane  and  Bridgewater,  and  at  that 
time  formed  an  acquaintance  with  General  Scott.  In 
1829  he  published  the  obituary  notice  of  his  preceptor. 
Dr.  Spence,  in  the  American  Journal  of  Medical  Sciences. 
In  1852-53  he  was  a  contributor  to  the  Medical  Examiner 
of  Philadelphia.  He  was  ordered  in  1815  to  Horfolk,  Va., 
and  shortly  afterwards  resigned.  During  his  temporary 
residence  at  Warrenton  he  decided  to  remove  to  Phila¬ 
delphia,  because,  he  said,  ‘  Virginia  is  a  fine  nursery  for 
young  men,  hut  a  poor  theatre  for  the  display  of  their 
abilities.’  He  always  kept  a  diary.  He  removed  to  Phila¬ 
delphia  in  1816.  He  says:  ‘  My  prospects  are  unflatter¬ 
ing,  but  patience  and  perseverance  may  enable  me  to  sur¬ 
mount  the  difficulties  which  oppose  my  progress ;  at  all 
events,  I  shall  put  my  shoulder  to  the  wheel.’  Dr.  Wistar 
appointed  him  his  dissector,  with  a  salary  of  five  hundred 
dollars.  In  the  fall  succeeding,  the  place  of  surgeon  in  an 
East  Indiaman  bound  for  Calcutta  was  proffered  to  him, 
hut,  true  to  correct  principles,  he  declined  the  offer  He 
added :  ‘  It  is  said  that  honesty  is  the  best  policy ;  here 
there  is  a  trial  of  the  rule.’  January  1,  1832,  he  suc¬ 
ceeded  Dr.  Physick  as  professor  of  anatomy  in  the  medi¬ 
cal  Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  On 
November  17,  1819,  Dr.  Horner  was  appointed  adjunct 
professor  of  anatomy, — a  place  of  considerable  emolu¬ 
ment  and  high  professional  distinction.  At  this  period 
he  was  the  victim  of  dull  headache  and  gloomy  fits  of 
hypochondriasis,  the  effects  of  over-study  and  application 
to  medical  and  surgical  practice.  On  October  26,  1820, 
he  intermarried  with  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Welsh, 
a  prominent  merchant  of  Philadelphia.  In  1821  he  went 
to  Europe.  In  1824  he  discovered  the  ‘  tensor  tarsi,’  now 


\V.  E.  HOKNEU,  M.I). 

(Professor  of  Ilunian  Anatomy,  University  of  Pennsylvania). 


WILLIAM  E.  HORNER. 


225 


named  ‘  Musculus  Hornerii.’  (See  articles  in  American 
Journal  of  Medical  Sciences,  1824,  and  ‘  Special  Anatomy 
and  Histology,’  by  W.  E.  Horner.)  His  anatomical  collec¬ 
tion  may  be  seen  in  the  ‘  Wistar  and  Horner  Museum’  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  He  rose  at  five  o’clock, 
gave  six  hours  to  sleep,  and  ‘  begun  the  day  by  an  bumble 
appeal  and  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God,’  and  concluded 
by  reading  a  chapter  in  the  Bible  and  by  supplication  to 
the  Almighty. 

“  In  1832,  when  cholera  invaded  the  country.  Dr.  Hor¬ 
ner  was  appointed  on  the  Board  of  Health  of  Philadelphia. 
For  this  labor  the  citizens  voted  him  a  magnificent  silver 
pitcher,  with  the  inscription,  ‘  To  Dr.  William  E.  Horner 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  grateful  for  his  disinterested  and 
intrepid  exertions  in  a  period  of  public  calamity.  Transeat 
in  exemplum.  August,  1832.’ 

“  In  1830,  on  a  visit  to  Cape  May,  he  made  the  acquaint¬ 
ance  of  an  eminent  prelate  of  the  Catholic  Church.  In 
1839  he  united  with  this  church.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  St.  Joseph’s  Hospital.  In  1848  he  revisited 
Europe,  and  was  received  with  distinguished  considera¬ 
tion  by  the  scientists  of  France  and  Germany.  He  was 
in  Paris  during  the  riots,  the  scenes  of  which  he  pictured 
in  an  inti’oductoiy  lecture  to  the  medical  class.  In  1850 
the  author  was  favored  to  be  one  of  his  office  pupils. 
January  22,  1853,  he  last  appeared  to  lecture  before  the 
medical  class.  Two  days  before  his  death  he  assisted  in 
the  examination  of  students  applying  for  graduation. 
He  died  March  13,  1853.  The  whole  frame  seemed  to 
give  way  at  once.” 

His  eldest  daughter,  Maiy,  married  Dr.  Henry  H. 
Smith,  professor  of  surgery  in  the  University  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania.  Emily,  the  second  daughter,  married  William 
Horner,  Esq.,  of  Virginia.  Josephine,  the  third  daugh¬ 
ter,  married  Dr.  Bichard  Eppes,  of  City  Point,  Va. 
She  dying,  her  sister  Elizabeth  married  Dr.  Eppes,  her 
brother-in-law.  The  fifth  daughter,  Agnes,  married 
General  Buschback,  and  now  resides  in  Paris,  France. 
Alfred,  the  eldest  son,  died  unmarried.  William,  who 


226 


THE  HORNER-BEOWN  FAMILY. 


also  was  \inmarried,  was  drowned  in  a  steamer  on  Lake 
IMichigan. 

Obituary  notice  of  my  honored  relative  and  medical 
preceptor  in  Philadelphia  in  1850-51,  the  late  Professor 
'W.  E.  Horner,  M.D.,  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania : 

TJniveksity  of  Pennsylvania,  March,  1853. 

“It  is  with  deep  regret  that  we  have  to  record  the  death 
of  William  E.  Horner,  M.D.,  professor  of  anatomy  in  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  which  took  place  in  this  city 
on  March  13,  in  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age.  Hr.  Horner 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  has  been  for  nearly  forty 
years  a  resident  of  this  city,  during  the  greater  part  of 
which  period  he  was  connected  with  the  chair  of  anatomy 
in  the  university.  He  long  since  achieved  for  himself  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best  anatomists  of  our 
country,  and  was  universally  esteemed  for  his  honorable 
and  upright  character.” 

“St.  Joseph’s  Hospital,  March  17,  1853. 

“  Resolved,  That  in  Hr.  Horner  this  board  have  to 
lament  one  of  the  founders  of  the  hospital,  a  zealous  and 
efficient  advocate  of  its  interests,  and  one  of  its  liberal 
benefactors,  who  spared  neither  his  means,  his  labor,  nor 
his  skill  in  furthering  its  welfare  and  in  healing  the  dis¬ 
eases  of  its  inmates ;  that  in  him  they  also  mourn  a  col¬ 
league  and  a  friend  who  in  all  his  intercourse  was  urbane 
and  considerate,  and  ever  prompt  to  sustain  them  by  his 
influence  and  assist  them  by  his  counsel,  one  with  whom 
it  was  a  pleasure  to  associate,  and  from  whose  exemplary 
candor  they  could  always  look  for  a  just  appreciation  of 
their  own  acts.” 

His  motto  was  given  to  the  author  for  his  rule  of  life, 
April,  1851 : 

“  Si  tibi  videtur  quod  multa  seis,  et  satis  bene  intellegis ; 
scito  tamen  quia  sunt  multo  plura  quse  nescis.” 


OTHER  BRANCHES  OF  THE  FAMILY. 


227 


CHAPTER  IV. 

OTHER  BRANCHES  OF  THE  FAMILY. 

The  author  of  “  Miscellaneous  Americana,”  AVilliam  E. 
Boogher,  Esq.,  affirms  that  the  Browns,  of  Cecil  County, 
Md.,  were  from  Delaware  before  1700,  and  that  the 
Horner  family,  of  Wilmington,  Del.,  migrated  from 
Accomac  County,  Va. ;  that  James  Horner  was  in  Mary¬ 
land,  on  Kent  Island,  as  early  as  1652 ;  that  somewhere 
between  1740  and  1790  a  marriage  occurred  with  the 
Brown  family,  of  Maryland,  and  the  Ball  family,  of  Mary¬ 
land  and  Virginia ;  that  from  the  Horners,  of  Maryland 
and  Virginia,  Colonel  John  Preston  Horner,  of  Missouri, 
the  grandfather  of  the  wife  of  the  author  of  “  Miscellane¬ 
ous  Americana,”  received  the  name  of  John  Preston ; 
and  that  if  such  name  was  given  as  an  act  of  friendship, 
it  occurred,  at  any  rate,  as  the  result  of  a  marriage  about 
the  period  of  the  American  Revolution. 

The  following  is  from  Ko.  137,  “  Virginia  Genealogies,” 
Hayden : 

“  Gustavus  Horner  settled  in  Franklin  County,  Mo., 
and  is  the  father  of  Colonel  Horner,  Mr.  Boogher’s  wife’s 
grandfather.  Gustavus  B.  Horner’s  wife’s  name  was 
Elizabeth.  They  had  more  than  one  son.  The  clerk  of 
the  Probate  Court  of  Franklin  County  adds :  ‘  The 
records  are  in  bad  shape  and  hard  to  reach,  but  there 
were  no  heirs  living  in  the  county  at  his  death  save  his 
widow,  Elizabeth.  A  widowed  granddaughter  is  also 
living.  John,  born  in  England  in  1685,  married  Catharine 
Inman,  second  daughter  of  Robert  Inman,  of  Beverley, 
Yorkshire,  England,  in  1709.  He  resided  about  eighteen 
miles  from  Ripon,  England.  Catharine  died  in  1722. 

16 


228 


THE  HORNER-BEOWN  FAMILY. 


They  came  to  this  country  (?).  Hence  the  name  in  the 
Horner  family  of  Inman”  * 

The  Horner  Family  of  Oxford,  Hortii  Carolina. 

Presented  by  Eev.  Junius  Moore  Horner: 

“My  father’s  grandfather,  John  Horner,  came  to  Horth 
Carolina  from  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in  Orange  County 
on  a  small  farm.  He  had  three  sons,  John,  William,  and 
Jetferson.  William  had  two  sons,  James  Hunter  Horner 
and  Thomas  Jefferson,  and  two  daughters,  Julia  and 
Eliza.  Thomas  Jeflei’son  Horner  is  now  living  in  Hen¬ 
derson,  H.  C.,  and  is  in  very  feeble  health.  He  has  a  son, 
William,  and  daughter,  Mary,  still  living,  both  married, 
and  have  children. 

“  My  father,  James  Hunter  Horner,  married  Miss  So- 
phronia  Moore,  of  Mount  Tirzah,  Person  County,  IST.  C., 
a  descendant  of  Colonel  John  Moore,  of  Hew  York.  He 
had  ten  children,  of  whom  eight  still  survive : 

“  (1.)  The  oldest,  James,  died  when  four  years  old. 

“(2.)  Jerome  Channing;  married  Miss  Williams,  of 
Wilmington,  H.  C. 

“(3.)  Lucy  Anna;  married  Augustus  W.  Graham,  son 
of  Governor  Graham,  of  Horth  Carolina,  now  Judge 
Graham.  They  have  three  children. 

“  (4.)  Mary  Ellen ;  unmarried ;  prominent  in  church- 
work  in  the  diocese  of  Horth  Carolina. 

“,(5.)  Junius  Moore ;  married  Miss  Eva  Harper,  of 
Augusta,  Ga.  They  have  two  children. 

“(6.)  Sophronia;  married  Judge  Robert  W.  Winston, 
of  Durham,  H.  C.  Four  children. 

“  (7.)  Gertrude ;  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  unmarried. 

“(8.)  Julia  Emma;  married  Henry  G.  Cooper,  a  banker, 
of  Oxford,  H.  C.  Four  children. 

“(9.)  Hina;  unmarried. 

“(10.)  Daisy  Louise;  married  Robert  C.  Strong,  a  law¬ 
yer,  of  Raleigh,  H.  C. ;  no  children. 


*  There  is  no  record  of  the  above  statement,  though  there  is  that 
Robert  Horner,  their  son,  settled  at  Port  Tobacco,  Md.,  and  married  the 
daughter  (Sarah)  of  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown. 


JAMES  HUNTER  HORNER 
(Founder  of  Horner  Military  School,  Oxford,  N.  C.). 


OTHER  BRANCHES  OF  THE  FAMILY. 


229 


“  John  Horner  and  William  lived  as  farmers  in  Orange 
County,  and  were  noted  as  men  of  strong  character,  good 
common  sense,  and  unhlemished  integrity.  William  gave 
my  father,  James  Hunter  Horner,  the  advantages  of  a 
thorough  education.  He  was  a  man  of  remarkable  nat¬ 
ural  ability,  and  was  studious.  He  led  his  class  at  the 
University  of  ISTorth  Carolina,  and  next  to  General  John¬ 
stone  PettigrcAV  was  considered  the  brightest  man  ever 
graduated  from  the  university.  He  received  the  degree 
of  M.A.  and  LL.D.  from  the  university.  His  whole  life 
was  spent  in  the  education  of  boys.  He  was  remarkably 
successful  as  an  educator,  and  ranked  pre-eminent  as  such 
in  the  State  of  Horth  Carolina.  The  school  founded  by 
him  is  now  in  the  hands  of  his  two  sons,  Jerome  Chan- 
ning  and  Junius  Moore.  My  father  was  able  to  give  his 
whole  family  the  advantages  of  a  thorough  education. 
His  widow  is  in  comfortable  circumstances.  He  died  in 
1892  at  the  age  of  seventy, — horn  April  3,  1822;  died 
June  13,  1892. 

“We  have  no  photograph  of  my  father  in  his  later  life. 
The  one  here  presented  of  him  was  taken  when  he  was 
twenty-eight  years  old.  Mr.  Randall  is  painting  now  a 
life-size  bust  and  head  as  he  appeared  at  the  time  of  his 
death ;  from  that  we  will  be  able  to  get  a  good  photo¬ 
graph,  one  of  which  will  be  forwarded  to  you  as  soon  as 
ready ;  but  if  that  should  be  too  late,  you  can  insert  the 
one  taken  at  the  age  of  twenty- eight.  This  letter  from 
Texas,  recently  received,  may  be  of  interest  to  you.” 

Mrs.  P.  C.  Sams,  Round  Timbers,  Baylor  County, 
Tex.,  writes ; 

“  My  father’s  name  was  John  Horner.  Virginia  was  his  native  State. 
He  was  of  a  roving  disposition,  and  has  lived  in  many  States.  Indiana 
is  my  native  home — at  Pendleton.  A  pleasant  reminiscence  of  early 
childhood  is  that  of  visiting  Uncle  Richard  Horner  at  a  country  seat 
where  they  were  making  maple  sugar.  The  tall  trees  from  which  the 
sparkling  water  ran  into  tiny  troughs,  the  huge  kettles  of  boiling  sirup 
and  the  delicious  candy  eggs  that  dear  auntie  moulded  for  us  in  tiny 
shells,  all  seem  as  fresh  in  memory  as  if  it  were  but  yesterdaj’.  Those 
were  the  only  relatives  of  my  father’s  ancestry  I  ever  met.  I  do  not  even 
know  how  many  brothers  he  had,  save  Uncle  Ben,  who  corresponded 
with  him  and  lived  in  Iowa  until  the  beginning  of  the  civil  war.  I  have 


230 


THE  HORNEE-BROWN  FAMILY. 


also  heard  him  speak  of  his  brother  Sam,  who  lived  in  Virginia.  Father 
died  in  1865.  We  were  living  in  Missouri  when  the  war  began.  Father 
was  a  phj’sician  and  past  forty-five,  yet  in  the  summer  of  1861  he  entered 
the  ranks  with  all  the  ardor  and  enthusiasm  of  a  boy.  After  six  months’ 
service  as  a  private  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  surgeon.  Our  cause 
was  lost,  our  banner  trailed,  and  yet  I  am  proud  of  my  father’s  patriot¬ 
ism.  His  memory  I  revere.  It  seems  sad  not  to  know  of  a  living  rela¬ 
tive  in  my  dear  father’s  line.  The  name  is  very  uncommon,  and  I 
thought,  perhaps,  you  might  be  of  my  kindred  and  could  give  me  some 
information.” 

The  above  letter  is  addressed  to  Rev.  Junius  M.  Horner, 
from  Round  Timbers,  July  23,  1896. 

In  the  details  presented  already  of  the  various  branches 
of  the  Horner  family,  among  those  known  to  fame  are 
Francis  Horner,  M.  P.,  England;  Surgeon  Gustavus  B. 
Horner,  of  the  Revolutionary  Army;  Professor  W.  E. 
Horner,  University  of  Pennsylvania;  John  S.  Horner, 
governor  of  Michigan  Territory ;  G.  R.  B.  Horner,  sur¬ 
geon  U.  S.  H. ;  James  Hunter  Horner,  M.A.,  LL.I)., 
founder  of  “  Horner  Military  School”  in  1851  at  Ox¬ 
ford,  jST.  C.,  and  Rev.  Junius  M.  Horner,  B.A.,  B.D., 
Johns  Hopkins  and  Geneseo  Theological  Seminary,  Hew 
York.  The  last  named  has  revived  in  his  person  on  the 
American  continent  the  calling  of  the  sacred  ministry, 
which  at  the  present  time  is  followed  by  two  of  the  name 
in  the  Established  Church,  near  Ripon,  Yorkshire,  Eng¬ 
land.  In  the  discharge  of  his  clerical  duty  Rev.  Juuius 
M.  Horner,  according  to  a  notice  in  the  Southern  Church¬ 
man,  the  sole  organ  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  the  South¬ 
ern  States,  performed  the  marriage  rite,  August  11,  1896, 
at  Henderson,  H.  C.,  for  James  Harrison  Lassiter,  Jr.,  and 
Ellen  Daniel  Faucett. 

Owing  to  the  difference  of  a  single  letter,  it  may  be  in¬ 
ferred  that  there  is  a.  divergence  of  the  Horner  families 
in  America.  For  example,  those  of  Pennsylvania  spell 
the  name  wdth  an  o  in  the  last  syllable,  those  of  Maryland 
and  Virginia  with  the  letter  e.  The  Hornors  of  Pennsyl- 


."" -y- 1 :'M 

■-■  ■ 'L-Bb.  .  -..:.S3S 


'.-  \  * 


iCSf  ' 


E^^^  "i 


^Vi.'  ■'■  ..'.afvae 


MRS.  GUSTAVOS  BROWN. 


OTHER  BRANCHES  OF  THE  FAMILY. 


231 


vania  are  represented  by  individuals  of  high  professional 
and  political  rank,  as  Surgeon  Charles  Hornor,  U.  S.  A., 
and  William  Macpherson  Hornor,  secretary  of  the  Society 
of  the  Cincinnati,  who  was  sent  to  France  in  May,  1897, 
to  convey  an  invitation  to  President  Faure  to  appoint  a 
delegate  to  represent  the  Republic  at  the  unveiling  of  the 
statue  of  General  George  Washington  in  Fairmount  Park, 
Philadelphia.  At  Ripon,  Yorkshire,  England,  as  in  Vir¬ 
ginia,  the  name,  perhaps  due  to  Anglo-Saxon  and  ISTorman 
bias,  is  always  spelled  Horner. 

Mrs.  Catharine  B.  Wright,  nee  Turner,  of  Chicago,  Ill., 
the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Henry  Turner,  of  “  Wheatland,”  has 
kindly  furnished  the  following  family  data : 

“  Sir  Gerard  Fowke,  the  first  of  the  family  who  came 
to  America,  settled  in  Virginia.  lie  was  a  descendant  of 
the  Fowkes  of  Gunston  Hall,  Stafibrdshire,  England,  and 
was  a  colonel  in  the  British  army  and  gentleman  of  the 
Privy  Chamber  to  Charles  I.  He  came  to  America  in 
1649.  His  son  Gerard  settled  in  Maryland,  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Dinwiddie,  daughter  of  Lawrence  Binwiddie, 
provost  of  Glasgow  and  niece  of  Governor  Dinwiddie,  of 
Virginia.  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown,  of  Maryland  (Port  To¬ 
bacco),  came  from  Scotland  in  1708;  married  Miss  Fran¬ 
ces  Fowke,  daughter  of  Sir  Gerard  Fowke.  She  was  born 
February  2,  1691;  died  November  8,  1744;  buried  at 
Dipple,  the  seat  of  Rev.  Alexander  Scott,  on  the  Potomac. 
Frances,  the  eldest  daughter  (called  the  ‘  Queen’),  married 
the  Rev.  James  Moncure,  of  Scotlaiid.  They  were  found¬ 
ers  of  the  extensive  family  of  that  name  now  living  in 
Virginia. 

“  Sarah  Brown,  daughter  of  Dr.  Brown,  married  Rev. 
James  Scott,  of  Westwood,  Dettingen  Parish,  Va.  Their 
children  were  James  Scott,  the  father  of  Alexander  Scott ; 
Mrs.  Dr.  Gustavus  B.  Horner  and  Mrs.  Brown,  of  Fau¬ 
quier  County;  Rev.  John  Scott,  father  of  Judge  John 
Scott;  Mrs.  Peyton,  of  Gordonsdale,  a  daughter,  who 
first  married  Yelverton  Peyton,  then  Hon.  Charles  Lee, 
and  lastly  the  father  of  Robert,  John,  and  IMrs.  Barbour. 
One  of  the  daughters  of  Rev.  James  Scott  and  Miss 


232 


THE  HOENEE-BROWN  FAMILY. 


Brown  married  Judge  Bullett,  of  Maryland.  Another 
daughter,  Christian,  married  Colonel  Blackburn,  of 
‘  Eipon  Lodge.’  ” 

The  earliest  records  of  the  Horners,  apart  from  what 
may  be  obtained  from  the  church  and  court  registers  of 
the  city  of  Eipon,  England,  may  be  found  in  second  part 
of  Eing  Henry  VI.,  Acts  1.  and  IL,  Scene  iii.,  in  which 
Thomas  Horner,  an  armorer,  is  accused  of  treason  by  his 
apprentice,  Peter,  in  asserting  that  “  Eichard,  duke  of 
York,  was  rightful  heir  unto  the  English  crown.”  To 
test  his  innocence  against  the  charge,  the  king  ordered 
that  Horner  and  Peter  should  decide  the  question  by  sin¬ 
gle  combat.  Peter,  alarmed,  urged,  “  For  God’s  sake, 
pity  my  ease  !  the  spite  of  man  prevaileth  against  me. 
0  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  me  !”  Horner,  on  the  con¬ 
trary,  presumptuously  said,  “  I  accept  the  combat  will¬ 
ingly.”  The  two  were  plied  with  drink,  cups  of  charneco, 
Peter  exclaiming,  “I  have  taken  my  last  draught  in  this 
world.”  However,  he  slays  Horner,  who  dying  says,  “  I 
confess,  I  confess  treason.” 

Perhaps  on  the  Anglo-Saxon  side,  Francis  Horner,  of 
Edinburgh,  the  great  parliamentarian  during  the  early 
part  of  this  century,  may  be  considered  the  most  distin¬ 
guished  of  the  Horner  family.  It  was  he  who  was  contem¬ 
porary  with  Pitt,  Channing,  and  Lord  Holland,  who  gave 
to  Great  Britain  her  present  financial  policy,  and  to  whom 
a  handsome  full-length  marble  statue  by  Chantry  was 
reared  at  Westminster  Abbey,  and  which  may  he  seen 
there  in  “Poets’  Corner.”  (See  Guide-Book  of  West¬ 
minster.) 


HOX.  FRANCIS  HORNER,  M.P. 


JOHN  SCOTT  HORNER. 


233 


CHAPTER  V. 

JOHN  SCOTT  HORNER. 

John  Scott  Horner  was  the  third  son  of  Dr.  Gustavns 
Brown  Horner  and  grandson  of  Dr.  Gustavns  Brown,  sur¬ 
geon-general  of  the  Southern  Department  of  the  Revolu¬ 
tionary  array.  He  graduated  at  "Washington  College,  Pa., 
in  1819.  In  1835  he  was  appointed  by  President  Jack- 
son  secretary  and  acting-governor  of  the  Territory  of 
Michigan,  inclusive  of  Wisconsin  and  Iowa.  He  de¬ 
vised  the  first  seal  of  the  Territory.  He  was  a  man  of 
education,  original  ideas,  of  great  mental  and  bodily 
strength,  and  an  able  lawyer  and  politician.  He  resided 
at  Green  Bay  when  appointed  land  agent,  and  subse¬ 
quently  founded  the  city  of  Ripon,  Wis.,  where  he  died 
February  3,  1883.  His  son  was  the  late  William  H. 
Horner,  judge  of  the  circuit  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

In  Tuttle’s  “  History  of  Michigan”  one  of  the  best 
sketches  of  the  life  of  ex-Governor  Horner,  the  man  who 
named  Ripon,  Wisconsin,  is  presented ; 

“  John  Scott  Horner  Avas  born  at  Warrenton,  Fauquier 
County,  Va.,  December  5,  1802.  He  A\^as  the  third  son 
of  Dr.  Gustavns  Brown  Horner,  assistant  surgeon,  IT.  S.  A., 
and  grandson  of  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown,  surgeon-general 
of  the  middle  division  of  the  Revolutionary  army.  His 
ancestors  Avere  English,  and  resided  in  Yorkshire,  near 
Ripon.  His  paternal  grandfather  emigrated  to  the  State 
of  Maryland  at  an  early  day  and  Avent  into  business  as  a 
Avholesale  importing  merchant.  He  Avas  a  relative  of 
Francis  Horner,  the  parliamentarian.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  graduated  in  1819  at  Washington  College,  Carlisle, 
Pa.,  and  practised  laAV  at  Warrenton,  "Va.,  until  September, 
1835.  On  the  ninth  day  of  that  month  he  AA^as  appointed 
by  President  Jackson  secretary  and  acting  governor  of 


234 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


the  Territoiy  of  Micliigan,  inclusive  of  the  Territories 
of  Wisconsin  and  Iowa.  As  chief  execxitive  of  the  Ter- 
ritoiy  Governor  Horner  did  much  to  allay  the  hostile 
feeling  then  existing  between  the  people  of  the  Territory 
and  of  the  State  of  Ohio  in  reference  to  the  boundary 
fpiestion.  Subsequently  he  Avas  appointed  secretary  of 
the  Territory  of  Wisconsin  and  received  orders  from 
President  Jackson  to  take  up  his  quarters  near  the  Mis¬ 
sissippi  River  in  order  to  meet  the  apprehended  difficul¬ 
ties  between  the  Winnebago  Indians  and  the  settlers  in 
the  mineral  region  of  Wisconsin.  On  his  arrival,  he 
learned  that  the  tribe  were  besieging  Fort  Winnebago. 
Taking  with  him  a  single  guide,  he  made  a  perilous 
journey  of  eighty  miles  to  Fort  Crawford,  called  on  Gen¬ 
eral  Taylor  for  a  force  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  men, 
and  AAuth  them  proceeded  to  Fort  Winnebago.  Arriving 
there,  he  demanded  a  council  Avith  the  Indians  and  re- 
«eeived  a  reply  from  the  chiefs  that  they  AAmre  “  falling  to 
pieces”  from  starvation,  OAving  to  non-payment  of  the  an¬ 
nuities  due  from  the  United  States.  Upon  learning  this. 
Governor  Horner  promptly  took  the  responsibility  of  is¬ 
suing  an  order  to  deliver  to  the  starving  Indians  one-half 
the  pork  and  flour  in  the  military  stores  of  the  fort.  This 
action  prevented  an  Indian  war,  and  was  highly  approved 
of  by  General  Jackson,  and  Congress  passed  an  act  grant¬ 
ing  one  thousand  dollars  to  Governor  Horner  as  a  recog¬ 
nition  of  his  services.  The  following  extract  from  the 
Wheeling,  Va.,  Gazette,  February  27, 1836,  Avill  show  Avhat 
he  accomplished  in  this  relation. 

“  ‘  On  arriving  Avithin  the  Territory  in  prosecution  of 
his  duties.  Governor  Horner’s  address,  as  Ave  learn  from 
eye-Avitnesses,  Avas  consummate.  It  was  a  combination  of 
personal  fearlessness,  tact,  wisdom,  and  prudence,  throw¬ 
ing  himself  among  the  turbulent  and  laAvless  spirits  along 
the  frontier  of  the  disputed  territory  at  the  hazard  of  his 
life,  and  by  his  fearless  bravery  restoring  perfect  order.’ 

“As  secretary  of  the  Territory,  his  career  Avas  distin¬ 
guished  by  ability  and  integrity,  and  he  received  many  evi¬ 
dences  of  the  confidence  of  the  people  and  of  the  general 
government.  After  retirement  from  this  office  he  Avas  ap¬ 
pointed  by  President  Jackson  register  of  the  Green  Bay 
land  office,  and  by  successive  appointments  by  Presidents 


HON.  JOHN  SCOTT  HORNER 
(Ex-Governor  of  Michigan  Territory). 


JOHN  SCOTT  HORNER. 


235 


Vau  Biiren  and  Tyler  held  the  position  for  thirteen  years. 
He  also  served  for  four  years  as  probate  judge  for  the 
counties  of  Green  Lake  and  Marquette,  M"is.  In  1836 
Mr.  Horner  de\dsed  the  first  seal  of  the  Territory,  a  square 
brass  instrument  representing  land,  water,  precious  ores, 
and  a  miner’s  arm  rampant.  He  was  a  man  of  education, 
original  ideas,  and  great  mental  strength,  and  as  the  first 
official  of  Wisconsin  will  forever  remain  prominent  in  its 
early  history.  He  had  resided  forty-eight  years  in  the 
West,  coming  to  Detroit  in  1835,  when  all  west  of  that 
point  was  a  great  vfilderness.  A  populous  country  has 
now  sprung  up,  embracing  many  of  the  leading  States  in 
the  Union.  He  lived  at  a  remarkable  period  in  the  his¬ 
tory  of  the  country,  and  in  his  latter  years  took  pride  in 
the  refiection  that  he  took  prominent  part  in  the  early 
organization  of  the  Territories  of  Michigan  and  Wiscon¬ 
sin.  Early  in  life  Governor  Horner  distinguished  him¬ 
self  by  his  advocacy  of  slave  emancipation,  and  the  records 
of  the  Virginia  courts  show  evidences  of  his  success  as  an 
advocate  for  slaves  suing  for  freedom.  His  sincerity  in 
the  cause  was  proved  by  his  freeing  the  slaves  descended 
to  him  from  his  father’s  estate,  an  act  performed  soon 
after  he  became  of  age,  and  one  as  rare  as  it  was  com¬ 
mendable  at  that  early  day.  Throughout  his  life  Gover¬ 
nor  Horner  was  known  as  a  man  of  great  determination 
and  courage.  Andrew  Jackson  remarked  when  appoint¬ 
ing  Governor  Horner  to  settle  the  northwestern  difficul¬ 
ties,  ‘  Xow  I  have  a  man  who  will  not  fear.’  His  utter 
fearlessness  was  a  distinguishing  trait  of  his  early  public 
life,  and  was  shown  in  his  liberation  of  his  own  slaves  and 
by  his  adherence  to  the  Federal  Union  during  the  late 
Civil  War.” 

The  autlior,  who  visited  him  at  Eipon  in  1872,  was 
shown  a  gold-headed  cane  presented  to  him  by  President 
Jackson.  Mr.  Horner  married,  in  1834,  Miss  Harriet  L. 
Watson,  of  Irish  ancestry,  a  great  favorite  of  President 
and  Mrs.  Jackson.  The  children  are  Andrew  W.  Horner, 
a  prominent  business  man  of  Albert  Lea,  Minn. ;  William 
H.  Horner,  late  judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  deceased;  Mr.  Gustavus  F.  Horner,  of  Ripon ;  Mrs. 


236 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


Mary  Lucas,  wife  of  Colonel  William  Lucas,  a  wealthy 
gentleman  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  Miss  Elizabeth  L.  Hor¬ 
ner,  now  married,  of  Ripon,  Wis.,  and  several  grandchil¬ 
dren,  among  whom  are  sons  of  Judge  W.  H.  Horner  and 
children  of  G.  F.  Horner,  Esq.,  and  Anna  B.  Horner,  of 
Ripon :  first,  Gustavus  Brown  Horner,  born  September  8, 
1877,  the  only  one  now  surviving  who  bears  the  favorite 
family  name,  Gustavus  Brown ;  second,  Alice.  The  above 
details  will  go  to  show  that  the  brief  sketch  of  the  life  of 
Governor  J.  S.  Horner  is  worthy  to  be  perpetuated  in  the 
memories  of  his  descendants. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

RICHARD  BRENT  HORNER  AND  FAMILY. 

Richard  Brent  Horner,  the  second  son  of  Dr.  Gustavus 
B.  and  Frances  (nee  Scott)  Horner,  of  Warrenton,  Fauquier 
County,  Va.,  was  born  August  17, 1800.  He  was  the  pupil 
of  Mr.  Williamson,  a  Scotch  clergyman,  who  resided  near 
Middleburg,  Loudoun  County,  Va. ;  during  his  early  man¬ 
hood  he  was  appointed  a  midshipman  in  the  United  States 
navy,  but  resigned,  and.  May  25,  1824,  married  Mary 
Blair,  second  daughter  of  Robert  Howe  Little,  M.D.,  and 
Mary  Blair  Little,  whose  mother  was  Elizabeth  Braxton 
Whiting,  the  granddaughter  of  Colonel  George  Braxton, 
of  “  Hewington,”  Ring  and  Queen  County,  Va. 

CHILDREN  OF  THE  ABOVE. 

(1)  Robert  Little  Horner ;  (2)  Frederick  Horner ;  (3) 
Mary  Horner,  died  in  infancy ;  (4)  Francis  Horner,  died 
in  infancy ;  (5)  Henrietta  Braxton  Horner ;  (6)  George 
Whiting  Horner,  died  in  infancy;  (7)  Richard  Henry 
Horner ;  (8)  Elizabeth  Moore  Horner ;  (9)  William  Hor¬ 
ner,  died  in  infancy. 


RICHARD  BRENT  HORNER  AND  FAMILY.  237 

Henrietta  Braxton  Horner  married  Francis  Houston 
Wyeth,  February  20,  1862. 

Robert  L.  Horner  married  Ellen  Ashton,  August  22, 
1865. 

Richard  H.  Horner  married  Virginia  Smith  Cary,  Jan¬ 
uary  11,  1872. 

Frederick  Horner,  Jr.,  M.D.,  passed  assistant  surgeon, 
U.  S.  H.,  retired,  married  Maria  Elizabeth  (Daisy)  Sher¬ 
man  (of  England),  March  26,  1874. 

GRANDCHILDREN  OF  THE  ABOVE. 

Children  of  Robert  L.  Horner  and  Ellen  Ashton,  his 
wife : 

(1)  Rose,  died;  (2)  Braxton;  (3)  Ellen  Ashton,  married 
Parker  C.  Wyeth,  St.  Joseph,  Mo. ;  (4)  Ashton,  died. 

Children  of  Frank  Houston  Wyeth  and  Henrietta  Brax¬ 
ton  Horner,  his  wife : 

(1)  Richard  Horner,  who  married  Eleanor  Elizabeth 
Regnault  Gilmore;  (2)  Francis  Maxwell,  who  married 
Margaret  Wardwell;  they  have  a  son,  Francis  Maxwell. 

Children  of  Richard  Henry  Horner  and  Virginia  S. 
Cary,  his  wife : 

(1)  Henrietta  Wyeth;  (2)  Frank  Wyeth;  (3)  Edna 
French  ;  (4)  Richard  Cary  ;  (5)  Sarah  Hart. 

Children  of  Frederick  Horner,  M.D.,  TJ.  S.  IST.,  and 
(Daisy)  Maria  Elizabeth  Sherman,  his  wife  : 

(1)  Leonard  Sherman;  (2)  Mary  Blair;  (3)  Elizabeth 
Braxton  ;  (4)  Frederick  Cecil ;  (5)  Gustavus  Brown,  died. 

The  maternal  grandparents  of  the  wife  of  Frederick 
Horner,  M.D.,  U.  S.  H.,  was  James  Williams  and  Eliza¬ 
beth,  his  wife,  of  Goodrich,  near  Ross,  Herefordshire. 

Issue,  Henry  and  James,  sons:  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Mary, 
Martha  (mother),  Anna,  and  Eliza.  The  farm  was  a 
most  picturesque  one  and  overlooked  the  river  Wye. 
Grandmother  died  February  13,  1879,  aged  eighty-eight. 


238 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


Grandfather  predeceased  her;  he  also  attained  about 
eighty  years.  Mrs.  Horner’s  only  brother,  George  Ross 
Sherman,  now  stationed  at  Leith,  Scotland,  on  board  H. 
M.  S.  Durham,  first  served  in  H.  M.  S.  Duncan,  1864-67, 
on  the  Rorth  American  and  West  India  station  ;  Water- 
witch,  hydraulic  experimental  ship,  1867-68;  Lapwing, 
1868-69,  on  the  coast  of  Ireland,  then  proceeded  in  her  to 
Horth  America  and  the  West  Indies  until  end  of  1872; 
Royal  Adelaide  at  Devenport,  1872-77  ;  Temeraire,  1877- 
80,  Mediterranean  station,  which  during  the  Russo-Turk- 
ish  war  made  the  famous  passage  of  the  Dardanelles  in 
a  snow-storm ;  H.  M.  S.  Implacable  and  Lion  (both  ships 
are  joined  together  by  a  bridge  and  are  used  as  training- 
ships  for  boys),  1881-87.  He  was  retired  on  a  pension  and 
settled  with  his  family  at  Portsmouth,  England,  having 
married  at  St,  Johns,  Canada.  In  1889  he  was  desired 
by  the  secretary  to  the  commander-in-ehief  to  accept  an 
appointment  for  temporary  service  during  the  summer 
manoeuvres  on  board  the  Asia,  guard-ship  of  steam  re¬ 
serve,  and  remained  until  1891,  when  he  was  appointed 
permanently  to  the  Durham,  drill-ship  for  Royal  Haval 
Reserve.  Mr.  Sherman  is  an  Accepted  Mason,  In  1890 
he  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  St.  Clair  Chapter,  ISTo, 
2074,  Landport,  Portsmouth,  England. 

The  Sherman  family  come  from  Goodrich,  Ross,  Here¬ 
fordshire,  England,  which  is  separated  from  Wales  by  the 
Wye  River  and  is  the  place  whence  come  the  Williams 
family,  of  England.  John  Sherman,  of  Ross,  married 
Martha  Williams,  born  at  or  near  Goodrich,  as  stated,  in 
the  county  of  Hereford.  They  removed  to  London  after 
Mr.  Sherman  had  been  indentured  to  a  lawyer  for  some 
months.  He  inherited  real  estate  and  houses  at  Ross,  but 
lost  them  by  investments.  He  removed  to  Portsmouth  and 
was  in  government  naval  employ,  and  died  at  forty-three 
years  of  age.  His  son,  George  Ross  Sherman,  entered 


MRS.  FREDERICK  HORNER. 


VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 


239 


the  British  navy  as  apprentice-boy  and  was  promoted  to 
the  pay  department,  and  after  twenty  years’  service  re¬ 
ceived  a  pension  and  resided  with  his  family  at  his  own 
home  at  Portsmouth,  England,  with  his  wife  and  three 
children.  His  sister,  Maria  Elizabeth,  came  from  London 
to  Toronto,  Canada,  and  was  married  to  Dr.  Horner,  as 
previously  stated.  Their  mother,  a  widow,  married  Mr. 
Thomas  Phillips,  and  now  (1897)  resides  at  Landport, 
Portsmouth,  England.  Mr.  Pendry,  of  London,  and  Mr. 
Frost,  foreign  correspondent  of  a  large  mercantile  firm, 
married  sisters  of  Mr.  John  Sherman,  who  were  distin¬ 
guished  for  their  beauty. 


CHAPTER  VH. 

VARIOUS  MATTERS  OP  INTEREST. 

In  connection  with  the  genealogy  of  the  Brown  family 
may  be  quoted  this  additional  data :  “  A  Memorandum 
of  the  Family  of  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown,  for  Lieutenant 
Scott  (Gustavus  B.),  H.  S.  H.,”  who  was  a  personal  friend 
of  the  author  during  their  naval  service  together  at  Nor¬ 
folk  Havy  Yard.  This  paper  was  by  Joseph  Horner,  of 
Warrenton,  Va.,  January  12,  1854: 

“  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown,  son  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Brown, 
minister  of  Salton,  in  Scotland,  in  the  reign  of  Charles  I., 
and  of  Jean  Mitchaelson,  daughter  of  Sir  George  Mitchael- 
son,  of  the  house  of  Middleton,  settled  in  Charles  County, 
Md.,  in  1708,  and  in  1711  married  Frances  Fowke, 
daughter  of  Gerard  Fowke,  of  Hanjemoy,  Md.,  and  Sarah, 
his  •wife,  who  was  Miss  Burdette.  Gerard  Fowke,  of 
Hanjemoy,  was  son  of  Gerard  Fowke,  of  Pashetansy,  Va., 


240 


THE  HORNER-BEOWN  FAMILY. 


who  was  sou  of  Roger  Fowke,  of  the  house  of  Gunston, 
ill  Staftordshire,  England.  His  sister,  Anne,  married 
]\Iajor  William  Dent,  of  Charles  County,  Md.  Mary 
married  Colonel  George  Mason,  ancestor  of  George  Mason 
(of  Gunston),  the  statesman.  Jane  married  William 
Waite,  of  Yorkshire,  England.  He  had  seven  children : 
Gerard,  who  died  unmarried ;  Chandler,  who  married 
jNIary,  daughter  of  Colonel  Richard  ,  of  Staf¬ 

ford  County,  Ya.,  and  their  daughter,  Sally,  married  Dr. 
John  Chapman,  of  Port  Tobacco,  Md. ;  Roger,  who  mar¬ 
ried  Anne,  daughter  of  Thomas  Stone,  of  Charles  County, 
Md. ;  Anne,  who  married  Robert  Alexander,  of  Stafford 
County,  Ya.,  the  grandfather  of  the  late  Charles  Alexan¬ 
der,  of  Preston,  near  Alexandria;  Catharine,  who  mar¬ 
ried  Ellsworth  Bayne,  and  left  no  children ;  Elizabeth, 
who  died  unmarried,  and  Frances,  who  married,  as  is  be¬ 
fore  stated.  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown. 

“  Gustavus  Brown  and  Frances  Fowke  had  the  follow¬ 
ing  named  children  : 

“  Sarah,  who  married  the  Rev.  James  Scott,  of  West- 
wood,  Prince  William  County,  Ya. 

“  Frances,  who  married  the  Rev.  John  Moncure,  of 
Stafford  County,  Ya. 

“Elizabeth,  who  married  Dr.  James  Wallace,  of  Staf¬ 
ford  County,  Ya. 

“  Mary,  who  married,  first,  Mathew  Hopkins,  and  then 
Mr.  Threlkeld,  of  Georgetown. 

“  Christian,  who  married  Mr.  John  Grayham,  and  died 
a  few  weeks  thereafter. 

“  Jean,  who  married  the  Rev.  Isaac  Campbell,  of  Prince 
Y^illiam  County,  Ya. 

“Cecelia,  who  married,  first.  Dr.  John  Key,  and  then 
Thomas  Bond,  of  St.  Mary’s  County,  Md. 

“  Anne,  who  was  married  three  times,  first,  to  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Claggett,  then  to  Robert  Horner,  and  lastly  to 
Samuel  Hanson. 

“  Richard,  who  married  Hellen  Bailey,  a  Scotch  lady. 

“  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown  married  a  second  time,  and  had 
Margaret,  who  married  Thomas  Stone,  of  Charles  County, 
Md.,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen¬ 
dence,  and  then  Dr.  Gustavus  R.  Brown,  of  Port  Tobacco, 
Md.,  an  eminent  physician.” 


■ft 


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4  - 


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’  ,,  *  ,  9^-  ' 

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^Residenoe  of  Gustavus  Richard  Brown,  M.D.). 


VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 


241 


A  brother  of  Dr.  Gustavus  B.  and  William  Horner,  of 
Warrenton,  by  name  John  Horner,  became  a  ship-car¬ 
penter  at  the  navy-yard,  Washington  City,  A  co-worker, 
Mr.  Padgett,  told  the  writer  that  he  was  an  industrious 
man,  reticent  to  a  marked  degree,  and  had  a  family.  His 
son  was  employed  at  Pensacola  Havy-Yard,  and  he  thinks 
died  there.  Quite  a  numerous  branch  of  the  Horner  family 
reside  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  are  merchants,  and  one  of 
this  calling  has  amassed  a  large  fortune. 

The  name  is  common  in  London,  England,  where  there 
is  the  large  and  successful  publishing-house  of  religious 
tracts,  etc.,  W.  B.  Horner,  27  Paternoster  Square,  London, 
and,  as  already  stated  in  the  text,  many  representatives  of 
the  Horners  reside  in  and  around  Ripon,  Yorkshire, 
England. 

At  the  International  Medical  Congress  assembled  in 
London,  1881,  Dr.  Horner,  of  Zurich,  was  a  delegate,  and 
was  regarded  as  a  most  eminent  oculist.  And  again  there 
is  E.  H.  Horner,  banker,  86  and  88  Wall  Street,  Hew 
York,  H.  Y.  Miss  Frances  S.  Marr,  the  author  of  several 
volumes  of  poetry,  was  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Catherine 
Marr,  nee  Horner. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Alfred  B.  Horner,  Esq.,  of  the 
State,  War,  and  Havy  Department,  the  author  is  furnished 
with  photos  of  the  house  and  tombstone  of  Dr.  Gustavus 
Richard  Brown,  of  Port  Tobacco,  Md.  He  adds : 

“  The  house  of  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown,  called  ‘  Rich  Hill,’ 
is  not  standing,  or,  rather,  it  has  been  entirely  rebuilt, 
nothing  remaining  but  the  chimneys,  a  depression  in  the 
ground  on  the  side  of  a  small  hill  (called  Vault  Hill) 
being  all  that  remains  of  his  tomb.  The  photographs 
represent  the  present  pictures  of  his  son’s  house,  called 
Rose  Hill,*  and  the  latter’s  tomb, — about  half  a  mile  from 


*  “  Rose  Hill”  was  the  name  of  the  old  home  of  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown. 


242 


THE  HORNER-BEOWN  FAMILY. 


Port  Tobacco,  wliereas  Rich  Hill  is  six  or  seven  miles 
from  it  and  near  a  town  called  La  Plata,  and  is  owned 
by  Mr.  Samuel  Cox,  whose  ancestor  of  the  same  name 
bought  the  property  from  the  Rev.  Richard  Brown  and 
his  wife  Catherine  in  1807.” 

The  inscription  on  the  tomb  : 

“SACRED 

To  the  memory  of  Dr.  Gustavus  Richard  Brown.  This  Tombstone  is 
erected  by  his  relict,  Margaret  Brown,  in  testimony  of  her  respect  and 
affection,  and  also  as  a  monument  of  his  Skill  as  a  Physician  and  his 
Learning  as  a  Scholar,  of  his  Wisdom  as  a  Philosopher,  his  Patriotism  as 
a  Citizen,  and  his  Generosity  as  a  Friend,  of  his  Elegance  as  a  Gentleman 
and  his  Hospitality  as  a  Neighbour,  of  his  Kindness  as  a  Master,  his 
Tenderness  as  a  Husband  and  Parent,  and  of  his  Benevolence  as  a  Man. 
He  died  the  30th  of  Sept:  1804.  Aged  66.”  (“Virginia  Genealogies,” 
“  Brown  Family,”  page  272.) 

Bishop  Meade,  “  Old  Churches,  Ministers,  and  Fami¬ 
lies  of  Virginia,”  furnishes  additional  items  connected 
with  the  Scott  family  : 

“  Rev.  James  Scott,  of  Scotland,  who  married  Sarah 
Brown,  daughter  of  Dr.  G.  Brown,  of  Port  Tobacco,  Md., 
had  several  children,  viz. :  James  Scott,  the  father  of  Al¬ 
exander  Scott;  Mrs.  Dr.  Horner  (wife  of  Gustavus  B.),  of 
Warrenton,  and  Mrs.  Brown,  of  Fauquier.  Hon.  James 
Scott,  his  son,  married  Elizabeth  Harrison;  his  daughter 
married  Major  Lawrence  Ashton.  The  Rev.  John  Scott 
was  father  of  Judge  Scott,  of  Fauquier,  and  Mrs.  Peyton, 
of  Gordonsdale.  A  daughter  of  Rev.  James  Scott  married 
Judge  Bullett,  father  of  Judge  Bullett,  of  Maryland,  and 
of  Mr.  Alexander  Bullett,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Louisville, 
Ky. ;  another  married  Colonel  Blackburn,  of  Ripon  Lodge, 
near  Dumfries,  Va.,  father  of  Richard  Blackburn,  father 
of  Mrs.  Jane  and  Polly  Washington,  of  Jefferson  County, 
Va.,  Miss  Christian  Blackburn,  and  Miss  Judy  Black¬ 
burn,  now  Mrs.  Alexander,  of  King  George  County. 
Colonel  Blackburn,  of  Ripon  Lodge,  was  also  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Washington,  of  Mount  Vernon,  wife  of  Judge 
Washington,  and  of  Mrs.  Henry  Turner,  of  Jefferson 


VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 


243 


County,  Va.  Mrs.  Blackburn  was  loved  and  revered  as 
a  Christian  in  Wickliff  Parish  in  old  Frederick  County. 
One  of  the  daughters  of  Rev.  James  Scott  married  Dr. 
Brown,  of  Alexandria,  who  was  at  one  time  General 
Washington’s  family  physician.  Mr.  Scott  officiated  in 
Dettingen  Parish.  His  glebe  was  on  Quantico  Creek,  on 
the  Potomac,  near  Dumfries.  He  was  minister  for  thirty- 
seven  years.  He  died  in  1782.  His  own  residence  was 
‘  Westwood,’  the  gift  of  his  brother.  Rev.  John  Scott.  It 
may  he  added  that  the  parish  of  Dettingen,  Prince  Wil¬ 
liam  County,  Va.,  was  formed  in  1745,  and  was  named 
after  Dettingen,  in  Germany,  where  the  English  won  a 
victory  in  1743.  Rev.  James  Scott  came  to  America  by 
invitation  of  his  elder  brother,  Mr.  Alexander  Scott,  min¬ 
ister  of  Overwharten  Parish,  in  Stafford  County.  The 
vestry  of  Dettingen  ordered  that  Rev.  James  Scott  be  re¬ 
ceived  as  soon  as  a  glebe  and  a  house  is  prepared.  Gov¬ 
ernor  Gooch,  writing  from  Williamsburg,  April  26,  1745, 
says,  ‘  I  recommend  Rev.  Mr.  Scott;’  also  under  the  same 
date,  William  Dawson,  the  commissary  succeeding  Dr. 
Blair,  says  ‘  that  all  the  souls  committed  to  his  charge 
may  be  saved  is  the  daily  prayer  of  your  humble  servant.’ 
Such  testimony  fully  proves  Mr.  Scott  was  fully  endorsed 
by  his  superiors.” 

It  may  here  be  added  that  the  Horner  family  of 
America,  which  on  the  maternal  side  is  connected  with 
the  Scotts,  is  most  respectably  related  in  England.  In 
the  volume  entitled  “  Triumph  over  Death,”  by  New¬ 
man  Hall,  B.A.,  the  author  describes  the  illness  and 
death  of  William  Gordon,  M.D.,  of  the  city  of  Ripon, 
in  Yorkshire,  and  says,  “  Dr.  Gordon  was  much  indebted 
to  Dr.  Horner,  whose  kind  sympathy  will  ever  be  remem¬ 
bered  by  the  survivors,  as  it  was  thankfully  received  by 
himself.” 

Thomas  W.  Swann,  Esq.,  Mount  Auburn,  near  Alex¬ 
andria,  Va.,  thus  writes : 

“  Dr.  William  Brown  and  his  daughter  Helen  are  both 
buried  at  Preston  with  their  tombstones  over  them.  He 

16 


244 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


was  surgeon-general  in  the  United  States  army.  Dr. 
Gustavus  Brown  was  his  grandfather,  and  his  son  the 
Bev.  Richard  Brown.  Their  portraits  are  now  at  my 
house.” 

In  the  genealogy  of  the  Horner-Brown  family,  it  ap¬ 
pears  from  the  volume  of  “  Old  Churches,  Ministers,  and 
Families  of  Virginia”  that : 

“  The  Horners  have  a  double  descent, — from  Dr.  Gus¬ 
tavus  Brown  and  Frances  {nee  Fowke),  his  wife.  Their 
daughter  Anne,  Mrs.  Claggett,  nee  Brown,  married  Robert 
Horner,  of  Ripon,  England,  and  their  eldest  daughter 
married  Rev.  James  Scott,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Gus¬ 
tavus  Brown  Horner,  of  Warrenton,  Ya.  The  tombstone 
and  grave  of  this  lady  may  be  seen  in  the  old  Edmond- 
Horner  Cemetery,  near  Warrenton.  The  poet,  James 
DeRuyter  Blackwell,  has  written  a  beautiful  ode  in  honor 
of  this  family-group.  In  connection  with  the  family 
records  of  the  Scott-Horner  family  may  be  mentioned 
that  Christian  Scott,  the  daughter  of  Captain  James  Scott, 
married  Colonel  Richard  Blackburn,  of  ‘  Ripon  Lodge,’ 
Va.,  and  their  daughter  became  the  wife  of  John  Augus¬ 
tine  Washington,  whose  son  by  the  will  of  Judge  Bushrod 
Washington  inherited  Mount  Vernon,  and  after  the  sale 
of  the  Mount  Vernon  estate  removed  to  ‘  Waveland,’  Fau¬ 
quier  County,  Va.,  and  left  this  estate  to  Lawrence  Wash¬ 
ington,  his  son.  Another  daughter,  Frances,  of  Captain 
James  Scott,  married,  as  already  stated.  Dr.  Gustavus 
Brown  Horner,  of  Warrenton,  Va.” 

In  proof  of  the  scholarly  attainments  of  some  members 
of  the  Horner  family,  Horatio  IST.  Robinson,  LL.D.,  author 
of  “  Hew  University  Algebra,”  section  “  Humerical  Equa¬ 
tions  of  Higher  Degrees,”  quotes  from  Horner’s  “  Method 
of  Approximation:”  ‘‘In  the  year  1819  W.  G.  Horner, 
Esq.,  an  English  mathematician,  published  a  most  elegant 
and  concise  method  of  approximating  to  the  roots  of  a 
numerical  equation  of  any  degree.”  Already  reference 
has  been  made  to  the  success  of  Francis  Horner,  M.P.,  in 


THE  AUTHOR  AND  FAMILY  AT  THE  “MOORINGS,”  FAUQUIER  COUNTY,  VIRGINIA. 


I 


I 


,  '  >■''' ■.i.v.‘'-':?';V^'9 


It, 


'i 


VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 


245 


the  field  of  political  economy,  and  thereby  establishing 
on  a  firm  basis  the  present  financial  policy  of  Great 
Britain.  The  writer  has  in  his  possession  a  most  interest¬ 
ing  correspondence  of  Mr.  Horner,  who  is  a  clergyman  of 
the  Established  Church  of  England,  resident  at  Ripon, 
Yorkshire,  in  which  part  of  the  country  the  family  have 
had  numerous  representatives  of  the  clerical  and  medical 
professions  for  several  centuries  past.  The  late  Professor 
William  Edmonds  Horner,  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,  visited  Ripon,  Yorkshire,  and  obtained  the  Horner 
coat-of-arms,  and  the  author  in  1872  was  there,  and  in  the 
cathedral  of  Ripon  saw  the  tombstones  of  several  of  the 
Horner  fiimily,  and  examined  the  ancient  parish  register, 
which  shows  that  several  of  the  name  were  aldermen. 
Mr.  James  Horner,  a  respectable  citizen,  who  was  blind, 
was  a  fruit-seller.  In  this  connection  it  may  be  added 
that  Professor  W.  E.  Horner,  first  surgeon  in  the  United 
States  army  and  afterwards  located  in  Philadelphia,  was 
married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Welsh,  the  sister  of  Hon.  John 
Welsh,  who  was  minister  plenipotentiary  to  England. 
Dr.  Horner  filled  the  chair  of  anatomy  of  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania  for  many  years,  and  was,  as  already 
stated,  one  of  the  founders  of  St.  Joseph’s  Hospital,  Phil¬ 
adelphia.  The  Wistar  and  Horner  Museum  is  a  monu¬ 
ment  to  his  talents  and  industry.  His  daughter,  Mary 
E.,  married  Henry  H.  Smith,  M.D.,  professor  of  surgery 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  one  of  the  emi¬ 
nent  surgeons  of  America;  another  daughter  married 
Dr.  Eppes,  of  Petersburg,  Va. ;  this  lady,  Josephine, 
dying,  her  sister  Elizabeth  married  Dr.  Eppes.  They 
have  a  numerous  family.  A  daughter,  Freda,  married 
Mr.  Maynard,  an  English  gentleman,  now  residing  in 
India.  Heither  of  the  sons  of  Professors  Horner  or  Smith 
assumed  the  choice  of  the  medical  profession.  The 
youngest  daughter,  Agnes,  married  General  Buschback ; 


246 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


she  is  a  widow,  and  resides  in  Florence,  Italy.  The 
brothers  of  Professor  Horner  were  Surgeon  G.  R.  Brown 
Horner,  U.  S.  H.,  who  is  the  author  of  Horner’s  “  Medical 
Topography  of  Brazil,”  which  is  one  of  the  highest 
standard  works  on  the  plants  and  animals  of  that  country. 
Inman  Horner,  Esq.,  a  prominent  lawyer,  of  Warrenton, 
Va.,  and  an  alumnus  of  William  and  Mary  College;  his 
son,  William  Horner,  Esq.,  also  a  lawyer,  married  his 
cousin,  the  daughter  of  Professor  Horner,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  is  the  author  of  the  biography  of  Professor  Horner, 
which  is  published  in  the  “  American  Medical  Biography 
Joseph  Horner,  Esq.,  the  second  brother  of  Professor 
Horner,  also  a  law^yer,  married,  first.  Miss  Baylor ;  their 
son,  George,  married  Miss  Selden,  and  a  daughter,  Fannie, 
married  Mr.  Brittan,  an  eminent  metallurgist  and  geolo¬ 
gist,  of  Philadelphia;  there  are  two  other  daughters, 
Annie  and  Mary;  the  youngest  brother  is  Benjamin 
Franklin  Horner,  and  another  was  Alfred  Horner,  Esq., 
of  Philadelphia,  who  was  for  many  years  treasurer  of  the  ’ 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Company.  His  son  Inman 
is  a  lawyer.  Surgeon  G.  R.  B.  Horner  married  Miss 
Byrne,  sister  of  Surgeon  Byrne,  H.  S.  A.  Their  children 
are  Alfred  Byrne,  an  official  in  Washington  City,  Charles 
Gustavus,  and  a  daughter,  Emeline  Brown,  who  married 
Mr.  Belt,  of  Maryland. 

This  eminent  naval  surgeon  and  physician  died  at  his 
home  in  Warrenton,  August  8, 1892,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
nine  years,  in  the  full  possession  of  his  faculties,  confined 
to  his  bed  only  six  days  from  debility,  though  able  to  make 
a  note  in  his  diary  the  day  before  he  died,  it  is  said  with¬ 
out  an  enemy.  He  received  the  last  rites  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church,  and  the  funeral  services  of  this  com¬ 
munion  were  performed  at  his  burial.  The  reader  is  re¬ 
ferred  to  “  Virginia  Genealogies,”  by  Rev.  Horace  E. 
Hayden,  A.M. : 


MEDICAL  DIRECTOR  Cx.  R.  B.  HORNER,  U.S.N. 
(March  13,  1871)). 


VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 


247 


“  The  record  of  the  life  of  this  worthy  citizen  of  Vir¬ 
ginia  and  officer  of  the  United  States  navy  is  deserving 
of  a  fuller  notice  than  has  been  given  above.  Born  a 
brief  while  after  the  Federal  Union  was  formed,  in  early 
boyhood  he  became  familiar  with  the  names  and  exploits 
of  men  who  won  independence  for  the  nation.  He  went 
to  school  in  Warrenton,  and  in  1812  saw  soldiers  recruited 
to  win  another  victory  over  the  enemies  of  his  country. 
Afterwards  he  was  at  Rev.  Mr.  Williamson’s  boarding 
school,  near  Middleburg,  and  subserpiently  graduated  in 
medicine  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  his 
brother,  the  late  William  Edmonds  Horner,  was  pro¬ 
fessor,  and  next  was  commissioned  a  surgeon’s  mate  in 
the  navy  in  1826.  During  sixty-five  years  and  six  months 
of  naval  life  (being  at  the  time  of  his  death  the  oldest 
surgeon  on  the  retired  list)  he  received  every  honor  which 
the  naval  authorities  could  confer  on  him,  viz.,  promotion 
to  surgeon,  medical  director,  member  of  the  examining 
board,  surgeon-in-chief  of  three  or  more  squadrons,  and 
by  seniority  became  surgeon-general  of  the  navy,  with 
the  relative  rank  of  commodore. 

“  His  first  cruise  was  in  the  frigate  Macedonian,  Brazil 
squadron,  1826-28 ;  Brandywine,  home  squadron,  1830- 
31;  commissioned  surgeon,  1831;  sloop  John  Adams, 
Mediterranean  squadron,  1831-33 ;  sloop  Levant,  1833- 
34;  frigate  United  States,  Mediterranean  squadron,  1836 
-37 ;  sloop  Levant,  Mediterranean  squadron,  1837 ;  fieet- 
surgeon,  frigate  Delaware,  Brazil  squadron,  1841-43; 
fleet-surgeon  Mediterranean  squadron,  1843-44 ;  fleet- 
surgeon,  frigate  Savannah,  Pacific  squadron,  1849-50 ; 
frigate  Wabash,  1856-58;  captured  the  noted  General 
William  Walker  at  Grey  town,  December,  1857 ;  steam 
frigate  Colorado,  flag-ship  Gulf  blockading  squadron, 

1861- 62;  steam  frigate  Hiagara,  Gulf  blockading  squad¬ 
ron,  1861-62;  steam  frigate  San  Jancinto,  at  Key  West, 
Fla.,  1862;  frigate  St.  Lawrence  and  gunboat  Magnolia, 

1862- 63;  retired  June  18,  1866,  as  medical  director,  re¬ 
tired  list,  March  3,  1871,  with  relative  rank  of  commo¬ 
dore.”  (Hamersly  and  Hayden’s  “  Virginia  Genealo¬ 
gies.”) 


248 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


Dr.  Horner  was  the  author  of  three  volumes,  viz. :  “  A 
Cruise  in  the  Mediterranean,”  “  The  "Medical  Topogra¬ 
phy  of  Brazil  and  Uruguay,”  and  “  Haval  Practice.”  The 
latter  was  one  of  the  first  publications  of  the  kind  in  this 
country  and  will  always  be  a  valuable  reference-book  to 
naval  surgeons ;  that  on  Brazil  is  often  quoted  as  an  au¬ 
thority  on  diseases  and  on  the  botany  of  that  land  by 
teachers  in  the  medical  colleges.  Dr.  Horner  was  hon¬ 
orary  member  of  the  Philadelphia  Medical  Society,  cor¬ 
responding  member  of  the  Hational  Institute  at  Wash¬ 
ington  (now  the  Smithsonian),  and  member  of  the  Army 
and  Havy  Commandery  of  the  United  States. 

When  he  entered  the  navy  in  1826  there  were  no  ocean 
steam  vessels  afioat,  Maury’s  “  Wind  and  Current  Charts” 
had  not  been  dreamed  of,  and  the  ironclad  and  torpedo 
vessels- of-war  had  not,  as  now,  completely  revolutionized 
naval  architecture  throughout  the  maritime  world.  Dr. 
Horner  saw  all  these  changes  and  survived  them  all  during 
two  eventful  wars. 

In  dress  and  mode  of  living  Dr.  Horner’s  habits  were 
of  Quaker  simplicity;  indeed,  he  practised  well-nigh 
Spartan  frugality.  With  passions  and  appetites  subdued 
to  will  and  reason,  he  escaped  excess,  and  all  through  life 
was  never  aggressive  socially,  politically,  or  professionally. 
He  was  one  truly  who  never  meddled  with  his  neighbor’s 
afiairs.  He  was  possessed  of  “ robor  corporis  et  mentis” 
and  such  life-force  naturally  as  to  resist  the  extremes  of 
heat  and  cold,  and,  save  attaks  of  the  Panama  fever,  la 
grippe,  and  nerve  shock,  he  enjoyed  perfect  health.  His 
family  and  physician  testify  that  he  never  used  alcohol 
or  tobacco,  and  the  writer  believes  that  he  knew  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  Lord  and  Saviour  for  time  and 
eternity. 

As  early  as  1748  George  Horner  laid  warrant  for 
two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Frederick  County,  Ya. 


VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST.  249 

(See  “History  of  the  Lower  Shenandoah  Valley,”  by 
ISTorris.) 

Another  member  of  the  numerous  Horner  fiimily  is  W. 
Harrison  Horner,  of  Hew  York  City,  who  addressed  the 
following  lines,  “  A  Life  Spent  for  Christ,”  to  Mr.  J.  C. 
Lamphier,  founder  of  the  Fulton  Street  Prayer-Meeting, 
September  3,  the  eighty-sixth  anniversary  of  his  birth : 

“  All  hail  to  thee  !  thou  vet’ran  saint, 

Whose  years  roll  on  without  restraint, 

And  mind  serene  and  clear  ; 

With  heart  aglow  in  Christian  love. 

And  faith  long  fixed  on  things  above. 

Still  standing  firm,  sincere. 

“  Yea  1  God  gives  health  and  years  to  thee. 

That  sceptic  minds  may  learn  and  see 
What  godliness  will  do  ; 

In  filling  ripe  old  age  with  joy, 

Nor  letting  ills  of  life  annoy 
Those  who  to  him  are  true. 

“  Life’s  path  in  noble  work  for  God 
Far  down  a  century  thou  hast  trod, 

And  faithful  pilgrim  been. 

Proclaiming  blest  salvation’s  sound, 

Difl’using  heavenly  light  around. 

Which  thousands  glad  have  seen. 

“At  last,  when  mortal  life  has  run. 

Joyous  !  thou’lt  hear  the  glad  ‘  well  done !’ 

And  in  blest  triumph  go 
To  dwell  with  him  thou’st  served  so  long, 

’ilid  heaven’s  rapturous  bliss  and  song. 

Immortal  life  to  know.” 

As  another  favorite  of  the  muse  of  the  Horner  family 
may  be  mentioned  Mary  Hollis. 

The  two  brothers,  William  and  Custavus  Brown  Horner, 
M.D.,  the  progenitors  of  the  Horner-Brown  families  of 
Virginia,  were  among  those  who  founded  the  town  of 
Warrenton,  Fauquier  County,  as  already  stated. 


250 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


Inman  Horner,  lawyer,  A.B.,  William  and  Mary  Col¬ 
lege,  1810,  was  the  eldest  of  William  Horner’s  sons.  A 
daughter  of  Inman  Horner,  Esq.,  married  Mr.  Evans,  of 
Philadelphia.  One  of  his  daughters,  Anna,  married  Mr. 
Samuels,  and  another,  Elizabeth,  married  Mr.  Ashhurst. 
Robert  Horner,  eldest  son  of  William  Horner,  Sr.,  had 
one  daughter,  Mary  Ann,  who  married  Mr.  Campbell, 
lawyer.  His  son  Robert  married  Miss  Mosby,  daughter 
of  Colonel  Mosby;  another  married  Mr.  Windmill,  of 
England.  The  children  of  Dr.  Frederick  Horner,  Sr.,  of 
Warrenton,  were  Frances  S.,  who  married  Robert  Down- 
man,  clerk  of  the  county  court  of  Fauquier  County. 
Their  children:  Robert  D.,  of  Waco,  Tex.;  Frederick, 
drowned  in  James  River,  at  Richmond;  Hattie,  who 
married  Lee  Fleming,  Esq. ;  John  and  Richard  Horner, 
Texas ;  and  Gustavus  B.  Horner.  The  son  of  Jackson 
Marr,  Esq.,  Thomas,  resides  at  Buena  Vista,  Va.,  and  is  a 
brother  of  Professor  Marr. 

The  Berkeley-Brown  Family. 

Mary  Brown,  third  daughter  of  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown, 
married,  first,  Mathew  Hopkins  (who  died,  leaving  no 
children);  next  married  Henry  Threlkeld,  June  18,  1751, 
who  was  born  in  England,  a  descendant  of  a  Danish  gen¬ 
eral  of  that  name,  who  settled  in  England  in  1507. 

The  only  living  child  of  this  marriage,  John  Threlkeld, 
was  born  October  26,  1758,  married  Elizabeth  Ridgeley, 
and  had  four  children  : 

Mary;  married  Dr.  Grayson;  had  one  son,  who  died 
single. 

William  ;  died  in  childhood. 

Jane;  married  Colonel  John  Cox,  "who  was  mayor  of 
Georgetown  twenty-three  consecutive  years. 

Elizabeth ;  died  unmarried. 

Children  of  Colonel  John  Cox  and  Jane  Threlkeld  were 


VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 


251 


Elizabeth;  married  Judge  Joseph  Underwood,  of 
Kentucky, 

John;  married  Julia  Underwood,  of  Kentucky. 

Richard  Smith;  married,  first, Eliza  Williams;  second, 
Mary  Berkeley,  only  daughter  of  Lewis  Berkeley,  Aldie, 
Loudoun  County,  Va.  (parents  of  Miss  Frances  C.  Cox, 
who  kindly  furnished  the  author  with  this  information). 

Mary  Jane ;  married  Watkins  Addison,  of  Georgetown, 
D.  C. 

Thomas  Campbell ;  married  Margaret  Robinson,  of 
Georgetown. 

Robert  Mickle;  married  Jane  Porter,  of  Kentucky. 

Ellen  May;  married  John  P.  McElderry,  of  George¬ 
town,  D.  C. 


The  Scott  Family  of  Virginia. 

A  sketch  of  the  Horner  family  would  he  imperfect 
without  notice  of  the  Scott  family  of  Virginia. 

Rev.  Alexander  Scott,  appointed  by  the  bishop  of  Lon¬ 
don  to  represent  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  in  the  colony  of  Virginia,  settled  in  Prince  Wil¬ 
liam  County.  He  married  Miss  Brent.  Rev.  James  Scott, 
his  brother,  married  Miss  Brown,  daughter  of  Dr.  Gus- 
tavus  Brown.  He  was  the  father  of  Rev.  John  Scott  and 
brother  of  Captain  James  Scott,  a  Revolutionary  officer 
and  delegate  with  Martin  Pickett  from  Fauquier  to  the 
convention  of  Virginia  in  Williamshurg,  May,  1776, 
which  framed  the  first  constitution  of  Virginia.  He  was 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Gustavus  B.  Horner,  of  Mrs.  Ann 
Brown,  and  Ashton.  The  descendants  of  Rev.  John  Scott 
were  Judge  Scott,  of  Fauquier.  His  son,  Hon.  Robert  E. 
Scott,  was  one  of  the  most  able  jurists  of  Virginia,  as  well 
as  statesman,  and  brother  of  John  Scott,  a  distinguished 
author  on  political  questions  pertaining  to  the  late  civil 
war  (1861),  and  the  son  of  Robert  E.  Scott.  Hon.  Robert 


252 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


Taylor  Scott,  now  deceased,  was  an  able  lawyer,  politician, 
and  cliurchman,  and  attorney-general  of  Virginia  (1889). 
For  further  information  concerning  the  Scott  family,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  “  Virginia  Genealogies,”  by  Rev. 
Horace  Edwin  Hayden,  A.M. 

The  Thornton  Family. 

James  B.  Thornton,  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Caroline 
County,  Va.,  and  subsequently  a  resident  of  Memphis, 
Tenn.,  where  he  died  of  yellow  fever  in  1878,  served  for 
several  years  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  and  was 
author  of  a  “Digest  of  the  United  States  Laws.”  He 
manned  Marianna  Horner,  daughter  of  Dr.  Gustavus  B. 
Horner,  of  Warrenton.  Their  son,  Dr.  G.  B.  Thornton, 
of  Memphis,  served  in  the  Southern  army  during  the 
Civil  War  with  distinction,  practised  his  profession  at 
Memphis,  was  president  of  the  city  Board  of  Health 
during  three  epidemics  of  yellow  fever,  and  by  wise  sani¬ 
tary  regulations  suggested  by  him  Memphis  was  saved 
from  total  depopulation.  Dr.  Thornton  displayed  heroic 
courage  on  this  occasion.  During  two  illnesses  from  this 
fever  he  nearly  lost  his  life.  As  member  of  the  Sanitary 
Commission  and  Public  Health  Association  he  became 
among  the  foremost  in  behalf  of  sanitary  reform  in  this 
country.  He  is  an  able  writer,  and  is  esteemed  as  an 
efficient  surgeon  and  physician.  (Refer  to  Appleton’s 
“American  Biography”  and  to  “Page  Family  in  Vir¬ 
ginia,”  page  194,  for  details  of  the  origin  and  history  of 
the  Thornton  family.) 

The  Horner-Marr  Family, 

Dr.  Horner,  of  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  and  Joseph  E.  Hor¬ 
ner,  Past  Grand  Master  of  the  Masonic  Order,  of  Hew 
Orleans,  La.,  may  be  mentioned,— the  latter  a  delegate  to 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  England.  Among  the  members  of 


VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 


253 


the  Horner-Marr  family  who  have  attained  to  honorable 
office  is  Robert  Marr,  professor  at  the  Virginia  Military 
Institute  of  Virginia;  J.  Scott  Marr,  Nashville,  Tenn., 
now  deceased,  and  Thomas  Marr,  inventor,  Buena  Vista, 
Va. 


Children  of  Dr.  Gustavus  B.  Horner  and  to  whom  married: 

(1.)  Gustavus  B.  Horner ;  removed  to  Missouri ;  married  (unknown)  ; 
one  son. 

(2.)  Richard  Brent  Horner;  children  and  to  whom  married  already 
given. 

(3.)  John  Scott  Horner;  married  Harriet  Watson,  of  Washington  City, 
D.  C.,  and  removed  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan  and  then  to  Wis¬ 
consin. 

Children  of : 

(1.)  Andrew ;  married  (unknown) ;  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 

(2.)  Unknown. 

(3.)  Judge  William  Horner,  St.  Louis;  married,  first.  Miss  Maury; 
second,  unknown. 

(4.)  Prank  ;  married  a  lady  of  New  York  ;  resides  at  Ripon,  Wis. 
(5.)  Mary ;  married  Colonel  William  Lucas,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  ;  one 
child ;  deceased. 

(6.)  Elizabeth;  resident  of  Ripon,  Wis. 

(4.)  Frederick  Horner,  M.D. ;  married  Ann  Lovell. 

Children  of : 

(1.)  Frederick ;  dead. 

(2.)  Gustavus. 

(3  )  Severe ;  dead. 

(4.)  John;  married;  resides  in  Texas. 

(6.)  Richard;  resides  in  Texas. 

(6.)  Frances  Scott ;  married  Robert  W.  Downman. 

Children  of : 

Robert;  married;  in  Texas. 

Frederick  ;  drowned  in  James  River. 

Harriet;  married  Lee  Fleming,  Esq.,  of  Washington  City,  D. 
C. ;  they  have  three  daughters. 

(7.)  Julian. 

(8.)  Severe. 

(9.)  Nannie. 

Daughters  of  Dr.  Gustavus  B.  Horner ; 

(1.)  Elizabeth  ;  married  Hon.  Thomas  L.  Moore,  M.  C.,  Warrenton,  Va. 
Child  :  Richard  H.  Moore  ;  dead. 


254  the  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 

(2.)  Catharine;  married  John  Marr,  Esq.,  magistrate,  Warrenton, 
Va. 

Children  of : 

(1.)  Robert;  an  officer  of  the  United  States  navy;  married  Mary 
Lavelette,  daughter  of  Commodore  Lavelette,  U.  S.  N. ;  was 
lost  on  hoard  the  U.  S.  S.  Albany. 

(2.)  John  Quincy;  statesman  and  captain  in  the  Southern  army; 

was  killed  at  Fairfax  Court-House,  Va. 

(3.)  John  Scott;  banker,  Nashville,  Tenn.  ;  married;  deceased. 

(4.)  Jackson ;  married. 

His  sons : 

(1.)  Professor  Robert  Marr,  alumnus  Virginia  Military  Insti¬ 
tute,  and  appointed  professor  civil  engineering  of  this 
institution ;  married  a  daughter  of  J.  Barron  Hope,  the 
poet. 

(2.)  Thomas;  inventor;  Buena  Vista,  Va. 

(5.)  James  Marr;  dead. 

(6.)  Sarah;  dead. 

(7.)  Unknown. 

(8.)  Margaret. 

(9.)  Frances;  poetess  and  authoress,  Warrenton,  Va. 

(10.)  Jane. 

(3.)  Frances  ;  married  George  Braxton  Whiting,  brother  of  Mary  Blair 
Whiting,  wife  of  Dr.  Robert  Howe  Little. 

Children  of : 

(1.)  Henry;  married  Rebecca  Hewitt. 

Their  children  : 

Frances. 

George. 

Hugh. 

Elizabeth. 

Eva. 

Fenton. 

(2.)  George  B.  Whiting,  of  Washington  City,  D.C. ;  married  Eliz¬ 
abeth  Sullivan. 

Their  children : 

(1.)  Henry  C.,  married  Sarah  Eveleth. 

Their  children  : 

Eveleth. 

Carlisle. 

Mary. 

(2.)  George  B.,  married  Miss  Lyons,  Georgetown,  D.C.  ; 
one  son,  Lyons,  and  daughter,  Georgie  Braxton 
Whiting. 


VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 


255 


Daughters; 

(1.)  Rosa;  married  Morton  Stille,  Esq.,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Children  :  one  son. 

(2.)  Ella;  resides  in  Washington  City. 

(3.)  John  Blair. 

(4.)  Richard ;  dead. 

(5.)  Fenton  B. ;  married  ;  lives  in  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

Children : 

(1.)  Richard  Henry. 

(2.)  Fenton  Blakemore. 

(3.)  Eugene  Carlisle. 

(4.)  Randolph  Virginius. 

(5.)  Frank  Moore. 

(6.)  Pearle. 

(7.)  Herbert  Wilmer. 

(8.)  Agnes  Frances. 

Daughters  of  G.  B.  W. : 

(1.)  Elizabeth  Braxton,  San  Francisco,  Cal.* 

(2.)  Mary  Blair  ;  the  same. 

(3.)  Frances;  married  Mr.  Henry  Anderson,  of  Dubuque. 
Children  were : 

(1.)  Francis  Braxton. 

(2.)  Rosa. 

(3.)  Henry. 

(4.)  George. 

(5.)  Richard  Horner. 

(4.)  Harriet;  married  Mr.  Irwin. 

Children  were: 

(1.)  Harriet  Ludlow  Irwin. 

(2.)  Frank. 

(6.)  Henrietta:  married  Mr.  Gould,  Quincy,  Plumas  County,  Cal. 
(4.)  Marianna,  the  youngest  of  Dr.  Horner’s  children,  married  James 
B.  Thornton,  Esq.,  of  Caroline  County,  Va.,  lawyer  and  author; 
removed  to  Memphis,  Tenn. 

Children  of : 

(1.)  Alfred;  married;  deceased. 

(2.)  Dr.  Gustavus  B.  Thornton,  a  distinguished  surgeon  and 
author,  of  Memphis,  Tenn. ;  married. 

Children : 

Gustavus  B.,  alumnus  “  V.  M.  I. 

May. 


*  Refer  to  “History  of  the  Page  Family”  for  more  extended  details 
»f  the  Whiting  family. 


256 


THE  HORNER-BROWN  FAMILY. 


(3.)  James  B.  Thornton,  Jr.,  married  ;  a  daughter. 

(4.)  Mildred. 

The  wife  of  James  B.  Thornton,  Sr.,  died  in  Washington  City.  He 
married  again.  Children :  one  son,  a  lawyer,  of  Memphis,  Tenn. 

The  author,  in  the  endeavor  to  discover  the  existence  of 
the  descendants  of  John  Horner,  third  son  of  Robert 
Horner,  of  Port  Tobacco,  Md.,  and  the  brother  of  Dr. 
Gustavus  and  William  Horner,  of  Warrenton,  Va.,  has 
received  from  G.  Pattison  Horner,  Ho.  38  Hopkins  Place, 
Baltimore,  a  merchant,  of  the  firm  of  Henry  Maslin  &  Co., 
the  following  information : 

“  My  father,  James  E.  Horner,  was  born  in  Chester¬ 
field  County,  Ya.  His  father,  Ezekiel,  I  think,  was  the 
ofl'spring  of  the  John  Horner  of  Maryland.  The  only 
surviving  son  of  Ezekiel  Horner  is  now  living  in  Bristol, 
Tenn.  His  name  is  John  Horner,  Sr.,  and  he  is  about 
seventy-five  years  old.  It  may  be  that  Joseph  S.  Horner, 
M.D.,  of  Missouri,  and  who  graduated  at  the  Medical  Uni¬ 
versity  of  Maryland  in  1843,  is  connected  with  his  family. 

At  “  Clermont”  farm,  once  the  property  of  Captain 
James  and  Alexander  Scott  and  their  descendants,  lies 
buried  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown  Horner,  of  Warrenton,  and 
of  Revolutionary  fame. 

How,  in  1892,  the  families  of  Dr.  G.  R.  B.  Horner,  sur¬ 
geon,  TJ.  S.  H.,  Dr.  Frederick  Horner,  Sr.,  of  Warrenton; 
Robert  Little  Horner  and  Frederick  Horner,  Jr.,  M.D., 
TJ.  S.  H.,  of  Marshall,  Fauquier  County,  Ya.,  have  lots  for 
burial  in  the  Warrenton  cemetery.  The  reader  is  referred 
to  “  Old  Churches,  Ministers,  and  Families  of  Yirginia,” 
by  Bishop  Meade.” 

“  Another  infiuential  branch  of  the  Scott-Brown  family 
is  located,  as  already  mentioned,  in  Chillicothe,  viz..  Dr. 
Gustavus  S.  Franklin  and  brothers.  Of  this  family  are 
Captain  Scott  and  Surgeon  Scott,  U.  S.  H.,  the  great- 
great-grandfather  of  whom  was  Dr.  Gustavus  Brown,  of 


VARIOUS  MATTERS  OF  INTEREST. 


257 


Port  Tobacco,  Md.,  whose  daughter,  Sarah,  married  Rev. 
James  Scott,  Dr.  G.  S.  Franklin’s  maternal  great-great¬ 
grandfather,  whose  son,  Gustavus  Scott,  a  great  friend  of 
General  Washington  (and  by  him  appointed  one  of  the 
commissioners  to  lay  out  the  city  of  Washington),  mar¬ 
ried  Margaret  Caile,  of  Annapolis;  their  son,  John  Caile 
Scott,  of  Western  View,  Culpeper  County,  Va.,  was  Dr. 
F.’s  grandfather — moved  to  Ohio  in  1832,  following  the 
doctor’s  mother,  Mary  Ann  Scott,  who  came  to  Chilli- 
cothe  with  her  husband  in  1831.”  (See  Dr.  Franklin’s 
letter  to  Dr.  Bedford  Brown.) 

A  family  record  adds  the  following  items,  viz. :  Rev. 
Alexander  Scott,  who  married  Miss  Brent,  was  appointed 
by  the  bishop  of  London  to  represent  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  America.  Rev.  James  Scott 
married  Miss  Brown,  as  already  stated,  and  was  the  father 
of  Rev.  John  Scott  and  brother  of  Captain  James  Scott, 
father  of  Mrs.  Gustavus  B.  Horner,  of  Warrenton;  of 
Mrs.  Ann  Brown,  of  Winchester,  Va.,  and  of  Mrs.  Ash¬ 
ton,  of  Warrenton.  There  is  no  English  record  of  these 
families  extant. 


1 


